July 2021 Sightings

Weather was partly cloudy-clear, 73-75°, 5-7mph wind
Survey time from 11:30am-5:45pm
We went to several locations

Ronda Spink and Dennis Dunlap

Searching for Ruddy Daggerwing because there is so much host plant here. One possible flyover but could not relocate. 9:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.(rain); 82°-88°, mostly sunny, light winds. Nectar: thistle, pickerelweed, Spanish needles.

Several Clouded Sulphur butterflies in the countryside! The milkweed has eggs, but no Monarch caterpillars. Observation was during late morning.Sunny, humid and hot temps with a drought so far this season.

Sunny, humid afternoon of 90degrees.

Banded Hairstreak series. This is for Jeffrey Glassberg.
Late instar larva collected from Butternut on 6/13/21
Prepupal 6/17/21
Pupation completed 6/20/21
Day 11 - Eclosed morning of 7/1/21

AR03
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Sunny, slight breeze, and 90 degrees.

Sunny and 88degrees

Rain last night & this morning; cloudy in afternoon. Temp in seventies.

Very dry! 7 am to 5 pm.

It seems like we have a second generation of Brown Elfins here in the coastal range in July.

Warm and sunny with temperatures in the high sixties and strong wind. Blossoming clover was abundant along with bunchberry and cow parsnip. The wind might have discouraged more butterfly activity, but I found several greenish blues flying mostly low to the ground along the Meadow Loop Trail.

Warm and sunny with temperatures in the mid sixties but with very strong wind. So strong that wildflowers, grass, and bushes were whipped around and blown flat against the ground. I looked for any butterflies in warm, sunlit spots that were somewhat protected from the buffeting wind and only found two tiger swallowtails. Both were clinging to bushes and getting blown around roughly.

Sunny, temp in seventies. My first Variegated Fritillary of the year.

Cloudy turned sunny — temps in mid-50s when started.
Silver Lake, Lake Solitude, Twin Lakes Pass and back to Silver Lake.
~8700 - ~10,000ft

Photos of female Fiery Skipper are of the same individual.

Seems like a good year for Hoary Edge.

1230-1415, 83-85F, SW 4-10 MPH, Cloud Cover 83>67% with some drizzle at times. Coastal Plain of Georgia; Today mostly on dirt/gravel roadsides in upland planted pine areas with swamps nearby.

fresh-looking Little Wood-Satyr in early July is unusual but has occurred before in this area

Quick stop while traveling

Mostly sunny humid morn.

Temps in the 70’s - mostly cloudy

Part of the SW Washtenaw NABA Butterfly count.
9:30AM to 6:38PM. 5 miles. Walking.
Weather: Cloudy and cool AM. Becoming sunny and mild in the afternoon.
Observers: Roger Kuhlman, Jackie Riley, Jeff Pavlik and Robert Bell

Very low diversity. High numbers of Hoffman’s Checkerspot and Clodius Parnassian. Otherwise low numbers. Whites, Edith’s Checkerspots, Anise Swallowtail hilltopping at Garfield Peak.
I am not 100 sure about the Square Spotted Blue but it looked good with broad marginal black line on forewing below and big square spots.

There were more butterflies visiting my yard today than most of the past days. The Orange Sulphur, a female, is an infrequent visitor, last seen in the yard in 2017. Temps have been over 99, mostly over 100, for many days.

Basically everyday nice butterflies and sweating a lot. Walked slowly around a large weedy field.

1315-1440, 86-89F, NE 5-7 MPH, Cloud Cover 33%, Coastal Plain of Georgia, WMA managed for dove, fields with nearby swamps.

54-84 degrees. Walked 3 miles of the trail and then back. Incredible number of CA Tortoiseshells today! Extremely dry conditions, found many butterflies puddling on vegetation on the pond today. (And almost got runover by a Mom moose and calf. She was running my way to escape a guy approaching her on a bike. Extremely close encounter.)

mid-70’s, sunny, around 1 p.m.
quick walk along Ohio River
second brood of Pipevines now present

Sunny, 80s, wind not a factor.

Weather was hazy, 82-86°, 8-10mph wind

Weather was hazy, 88°, 8mph wind

Sightings for the past week.

Almost no grass skippers have been seen here, even with blooming Butterfly bush and Lantana.

Soggy butterflies were easy to photograph after several days of rain.

The university has a nice planting of Coontie and the Atalas have found them. There were 88 caterpillars and 76 adults

Temperatures nearing 70° with mostly clear skies, bright sun, and a light breeze. Lots of wildflowers along the scenic pull-off, and beautiful views of the snow-capped Chugach Mountains and spectacular Nelchina Glacier. This is the highest spot along the Glenn Highway with an elevation of 3,322 ft. Blue butterflies were observed along the parking area during a brief 20 minute stop at the pull-off.

Warm sunny afternoon with mostly clear skies and a light breeze, temperatures in the high sixties. This gravel road travels down from the highway across beautiful boggy and bushy tundra past Knob lake and up the Knob, a hill formed by ancient glacial activity.

Mostly sunny, humid and 91.

Beautiful sunny day with mostly clear skies, occasional clouds, light breeze, and temperatures in the high sixties. I roamed the area around the Matanuska Glacier overlook and the wildflowers around the parking area but saw almost no butterflies. Two light-colored butterflies chased each other down the slope from the overlook but too far away to identify. A tiger swallowtail had flown in front of the car as we approached the pull-off so I’ve counted it for this location. Just as I was about to open the car door to move on, a small blue butterfly fluttered by and I followed it until the butterfly paused at the latrines. Interestingly, my last sighting of a Cranberry Blue was on July 4th 2020 at Denali National Park (Yukon blue is the local subspecies).

Very dry.

With Seth, Rick and Emily and part of the Northern Westchester Count. All numbers from memory and may be different from official tallies.

Leaderless Walks - 7 participants. Sunny, temps in high 70’s.

Breezy, mostly sunny, 80s. Incidental sights on a stroll through the park…a Duskywing was also present but couldn’t get a definitive ID…

As soon as the path with bridges opened into a meadow John spotted our target ‘Black Dash’ on pink clover! We hiked 2 hours but saw few butterflies.

Only ventured for about an hour before the altitude got to my son. The Freija Fritillary and Grizzled Skippers were on the Summit County side of the pass.

11:00 to 3:00 p.m.
slight overcast at times, humid, low 80’s
impossible to count exact number of grass skippers but several of most species.

Had great day butterflying the first half of the survey at Fontenelle Forest. It was around 83 degrees, sunny with slight breeze.

Monarch Waystation #2490 had two Monarchs visit the butterfly garden. Some eggs were found on swamp milkweed leaves.

Hot, low 90s, breezy with gusts, mostly cloudy…the hike was unfortunately cut short really early with heavy thunderstorms that moved into the area - hence minimal numbers/species. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail was a dark form female…

1100-1300, 79-83F, SE 5-10MPH, Cloud Cover 72%, Georgia Sandhills Habitat. Flash needed today due to dark conditions. Overcast may have contributed to low butterfly count.
Both male and female Zarucco were in the same small area.

We had a few good species but not our target ‘Black Dash’. Butterfly numbers were low compared to amount of area we covered and the time we searched.

This location was an inaccessible huge swamp with culvert under a very busy road (even midweek). There were wildflowers along the road at the culvert.

Hiked along the ridge next to the creek where I found the Ridings’ Satyrs and most of the Callippe Fritillaries and Behr’s Hairstreaks. I then hiked down to the creek where I encountered the rest of the species.

I hiked along the ridge next to the creek at first. The Ridings’ Satyrs, most of the Behr’s Hairstreaks, Small Wood-Nymphs, and Callippe Fritillaries where found there. Then I hiked along the creek for a few miles where I encountered the rest of the species.

This is the first Zebra swallowtail I have ever seen, especially due to the fact they do not travel this far North. We recently planted Paws Paws (their only host plant) and the weather as been unusually warm and humid which are possible explanations of why this species was feeding on the Milkweed.

Overcast and storms in the area, but happy to find both male and female Diana’s. One male and three females.

90 degrees and with high dewpoint at 2pm. There were 2 Monarchs visiting Monarch waystation. #2490

Weather was mostly cloudy-cloudy, 70°-72°, calm to 5mph winds.

Our first trip was not successful due to roadside mowing but when we returned we looked for ‘Woodland Sunflowers’ on the mountainside in shale barren habitat. The first we spotted were at 9:30 but were 25-30 feet up on the mountain. By 10 when the sun really popped we had seen at least 15. It seemed there was one on every woodland sunflower! Temperature in the low 70’s.

Warm & Sunny. At the park campground & North Mountain Loop.

Sunny, a high of 99 degrees.

Around 3pm ET observed butterflies to waystation #2490. Two Monarchs one of them left eggs on milkweed plants.

Only hiked to the creek crossing and back.

Lot is around 10,300 ft. Just wandered looking for butterflies in the flowers

Walked trail counterclockwise to lake and back.
Elevation: ~9900 - ~10975

CA Tortoiseshell plentiful from the highest point and around the lake.

1545-1730, 90F, SW 9-12 MPH, Cloud Cover 44-47%, Coastal Plain of Georgia, Gravel road and large field next to swamps.

Two Variegated Fritillaries in image flying together low over open ground - possible courtship.

Two sequential images (of identical male Horace’s Duskywing), taken 2 seconds apart and processed exactly the same, showing effects of shadow on field marks and ground color.

1:30 to 5:00PM
Sunny, little wind. Around 75 degrees.
One unidentified Comma species.

9am to 10:30, mostly sunny 85-90 degrees

I also saw a small skipper that I was not able to ID.

noon - 1pm, mostly sunny 90 degrees

11:00 - 11:30 am, sunny, 90 degrees
sulphur is Lyside

Arrived to find the refuge visitor center is still closed and that the area, having received a large amount of rain over the past few days, was flooded badly and refuge drive was closed. Several keys areas for butterflies inaccessible.

We’ve had a week of chilly weather here with drizzly rain and strong winds some days so little chance for butterfly activity. In the morning we went to a couple of spots where I can usually find some butterflies but with temperatures in the fifties, overcast skies, and strong wind, I didn’t see any at all. By mid afternoon the wind had calmed and the sun finally broke through the clouds, pushing temperatures into the low sixties. I checked one of my favorite spots along the Campbell Creek Trail and found silvery blues chasing each other among lupine and other wildflowers in small bright openings in the woods off the trail. There were more mosquitos and little white moths than butterflies, but it was a pleasure spending time getting photos of the silvery blues.

1:00 to 4:30PM
Weak sunshine. 75 degrees.
A part of the route is in Oscoda County.

8-9 am, mid 80’s. Butterflies may have been attracted to yard sprinkler.

Had two crescent types but not sure if they were Northern or Silvery Checkerspots. Didn’t get good looks at the undersides.

Leaderless Walks, 5 participants. Hot (temps in 80’s) sunny and humid.

Leaderless Walks, 8 participants. Cloudy, hot (temps in 80’s) and humid. Then sunny towards afternoon.

10 - 1; 70’s and overcast
With Jane Lampkin and Groundskeeper extraordinaire, Matt Ceplo.

12:30PM to 5:00PM.
Sunny, but increasing clouds. Dim sunshine for the last hour. Low 70’s.
A fantastic day of butterflying. The Great Spangled Fritillaries are having a banner year!!!

9 am to 11 am. 70’s to 80’s, partly cloudy.

Monarda, Liatris & much more blooming. Black Swallowtail caterpillars on fennel. Northern Cloudywing was a nice surprise! Overcast 80F with rain on the way.

About 8-9 am. Partly sunny, bee weed, sunflowers, chocolate flowers, and datura blooming. Velvet ants and horntail wasps active in area.

Monarch pair coupled

0945-1615, 75-87F, S-SE 2-9MPH, Cloud Cover 86>57%, Very overcast with some heavy and light rain in the morning/early afternoon kept the count low. Became very nice around mid-afternoon and the butterflies came out. Piedmont of Georgia, Pine dominated upland areas, hardwood bottomlands, creeks, ponds, open fields, gravel roadsides. Ticks were not nearly as plentiful as last trip here.

A Barred Yellow and a Hackberry Emperor apparently liked my sweat.

Last time here (6/28), there were Pearl Crescent everywhere. This time there were Hoary Edge everywhere.

945am-1235pm, 81-89 degrees, sunny to cloudy, calm

Cloudy, light breeze, very humid, mid-80s. Later afternoon - early evening walk (5:30 - 7:00 PM). Numerous Hummingbird and Snowberry Clearwing Moths out as well…

10:00 to 1:00 p.m.
partly cloudy, humid, upper 70’s, low 80’s

Sunny with average temperature around 80. The number of butterflies is starting to pick up at Lauritzen Gardens during our weekly survey. Nice find today was the Checkered White.

Susan & I conducting a portion of the Itasca State Park Butterfly Count.

Weather was partly cloudy-hazy, 82°, 8-9mph winds

Weather was partly-mostly cloudy, 79-81°, 8mph winds

R. Spink

1000-1200, 81-88F, SW 1-3MPH, Cloud Cover 26-28%. Bright sun, blue sky with white puffy clouds, halcyon type day. Georgia Piedmont, pond edge, large open marsh area, mixed forest, gravel road. 33.09178538162844, -83.71956842367356

I searched in an area about 1.5-2 miles in circumference. Spent much of the time looking through ankle to chest high grasses, sedges, etc. Saw only one snake. Pulled out one tick in spite of copious amounts of deet and permethrin.

On my last two visits to this location during the past couple of weeks the temperature was in the high fifties, and with overcast skies I saw no butterflies at all. This evening on a short visit after work I found several worn-looking Western tailed-blues. With fewer tailed-blues and none of the greenish blues that were present in June it looks like we’re nearing the end of flight period activity at this location. I was hoping some other species would have emerged - I had a white admiral sighting here in early July last year - but found no other butterflies tonight.

Second location of the day after a lunch rain break. Hot, humid, light breeze, mid to upper 80s. First Sleepy Oranges of the season! Unfortunately they would not cooperate for photos, which historically seems typical for early season…they usually settle down later in summer and fall. Great variety today…

Partly cloudy changing to cloudy before rain moved in, light breeze, humid, mid-80s. Buckeyes are out…FOY Northern Broken-Dash as well. Strong current brood for Pearl Crescents…literally swarming in places!

12:30PM to 4:00PM
Sunny. 82 degrees.
Host plant was Monarda fistulosa.

With Wil Sprauve and Valerie Burdette.
Butterflies encountered while birding.

sunny to partly cloudy, high 70’s low 80’s, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Large patches of Milkweed was everywhere along entry road with 100’s of butterflies. Big numbers of large fritillaries, mostly Great Spangle Fritillaries. Only Atlantis is in photograph. Photo show blowup of grayish-blue eyes in upper right corner. Grass skippers galore, impossible to say how many of most species.

Field of sunflowers and road mud puddling made for an active area in the late afternoon.

Overcast and rain throughout visit made for touch and disappointing butterflying.

Partly sunny, humid with a little breeze. 84degrees. A Monarch visited waystation #2490

Cloudy all day but walked 2 of the trails for our weekly survey. 82 degrees.

Noon. 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Overcast. On jatropha shrub flowers.

My wife and I spent three days in LVNP, Warner Valley coincidental with the NABA Butterfly Count, enjoying the abundance of Great Spangled Fritillaries and a good variety of other butterflies. Weather was pleasant but a bit smoky from the forest fires. Butterflies listed do not include everything seen during the count.

9:00 am - 12:30 pm; 78.3 F, very humid, calm clear skies.

Large, active group of Rita Blues near a wet area, near the road.

There was an hilarious outbreak of Helicoverpa zea - Corn Earworm - Hodges#11068. They were everywhere.

1445-1620, 91-92F, SW 4-7MPH, Cloud Cover 47-52%, Georgia Coastal Plain, Gravel Road and Weedy Open Field next to Swamp. 31.592735528542214, -84.34196426575446

A beautiful, relaxing day up above the tree line in Alpine high tundra. Mostly clear with bright sun, temperatures in the low to mid-seventies, and a strong breeze. Nice sightings of pika, Arctic ground squirrels, and marmots. Butterflies were mostly far and few between as we get later into the season here. Freshly emerged Milbert’s tortoiseshells were most numerous. The Arctic fritillary appears to be more specifically Boloria chariclea butleri, Butler’s fritillary (the local subspecies). Several sulphurs were seen but never close enough for photos or confident identification.

With Jane Lampkin and Jolie Lampkin
10:30 - 12:30; 78 - 88
1.7 mile loop trail

Went from Silver Lake to Lake Solitude to Twin Lakes Pass, and then back down past Twin Lakes and Silver Lakes.

Lots of Blue Copper flying

Impressive numbers of skippers. All four wetland species (Dion, Mulberry Wing, Black Dash and Long Dash) were by the Bradys Lake Dam parking lot. Also very good numbers of tiger swallowtails and fritillaries. Could not find an Acadian Hairstreak—which was the target species (the wetland with willows and plenty of nectar sources but this is the third time I tried for it and cannot find one).

Grateful for a neighbor who made sure my garden was watered. Looking out on this scene made us glad to be home after 2 months on the road chasing butterflies! It was sunny & 93 degrees when I shot these at 1 pm.

Hot & humid, low 90 degrees. Sightings primarily from the butterfly garden, visitor’s center, and the picnic area. The blackberry lily, liatris, coneflowers, sweet pepperbush in the garden were drawing the most butterflies. Sleepy orange laying eggs on senna marilandica.

A hike from Upper Canyon Road to beautiful Rabbit Lake and back, approximately 9 miles round trip, from 9:30am to 4:30pm. The hike takes you through mountain alders, cottonwood, willows, and mountain hemlocks until about halfway up toward the lake you emerge onto open high tundra with beautiful views of the mountain peaks. Clear but hazy skies on the warmest day of the year to-date with temperatures in the mid to upper seventies and a nice breeze. Lots of fresh bear sign on the lower section of the trail, often at points where the brush is especially overgrown and visibility is limited, but the only mammals we saw were Arctic ground squirrels. Butterflies were low in density but visible in fair numbers from the start to the end of the hike. Many of the cranberry blues (Yukon blue is the local subspecies) and Arctic fritillaries (Butler’s fritillary is the local subspecies) were very worn looking. One blue was so battered it hardly seemed capable of flight. Palaeno sulphurs were very active along the trail and hard to approach and photograph, but several were found puddling in mud and shallow standing water near the parked car after the hike. The Arctic Skippers were a surprise as their flight period is typically in June per Philip & Ferris (Butterflies of Alaska) and I hadn’t yet encountered any in July. Several skippers were puddling near the sulphurs.

12:15 to 3:00PM.
Sunny. 78 degrees.
Very wet conditions.Butterfly numbers were low for this location.

With Jane Lampkin, Jolie Lampkin and Tyler Georgi
Hot! 88 and muggy

1030-1400, 85-92F (Feels 99F), SW 2-6 MPH, Cloud Cover 18-20%, Georgia Coastal Plain, Gravel road, Swamp edges, Upland planted pine, fields, Photographed a seldom seen Mud Snake (Farancia abacura)31.476136418488405, -84.39203521320864

Following several days of rain, the sun has come out with low humidity and 73degrees at 1pm. Monarchs visited garden #2490, found eggs on milkweed plants!