August 2022 Sightings

Weather was mostly clear, 82°, 7-8mph winds
Survey time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

The nectar sources I saw along the trail today were knapweed, bindweed, alfalfa, Rubber rabbitbrush, sweet yellow clover and various grasses.

I saw two blue butterfly species I could not photograph or ID. One was teeny tiny, flying close to the ground and the other was heavily patterned below. I also got a quick look at a possible Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, which I hope to see again.

10AM-11:20AM, partly sunny, mid 70’s

97 degrees, sunny. Still seeing new species since we had over 12” of rain in 3.5 weeks but none in a week now. This is our second Queen in a few days, we’d not ever seen one here on the SE GA Coast previously and it looks so fresh I don’t think it could have migrated far! And just look at all that pollen on the Eastern Tiger!

Agricultural fields where corn and alfalfa are grown. Sunny, 70’s, about 9 am.

The sightings were from 08:00 to 11:00 when it became hot at 87 degrees. The main nectar source was Joe-Pye weed holding almost all of the Swallowtails. Most Zebra Swallowtails were along roads and paths today. All sightings were within the island today.

Sunny with temp of 78 late morning. A beautiful colorful tiger swallowtail visited cert butterfly garden #2490. The Monarch - and Question Mark were present also.

(12-445) Super hot and humid. Flies were minimal but the skeeters were not.

Sunny and 73° as I started at 6:08pm and 72° at 7:05pm when I finished. Only two worn Dorcas Coppers were found tonight as we get late in their flight season, and both were in the southeast part of the bog where activity has consistently been strongest. None were found at the north end of the bog despite a careful search of shrubby cinquefoil patches. I also checked the trail around the bog and a wooded area at the north end for any recently-eclosed Green Commas but didn’t find any.

All on and around the landfill.

Only Harvester seen was a caterpillar on Beech Blight Aphids

I went for a quick walk along the Colorado River early this afternoon to see what nectar sources were blooming, discovering that I’d missed seeing the knapweed in bloom. I hope the rubber rabbitbrush and sage will attract some butterflies.

12:25-1PM, partly sunny, high 80’s

Today I walked further up into the canyon on this trail, finding large clumps of yellow coneflowers, goldenrod and a few clumps of pussytoes growing along the creek. This report is an undercount; there were butterflies flying above me, next to me and at me all along the trail - what an experience!

10:55-12:25, sunny, mid 80’s, elevation about 6000 ft.

Late morning to noon. Partly cloudy, mid 80’s.Few flowers blooming—mostly goldenrod and sundrops.

There were a few Frits flying

Another colony of Bronze Coppers!

Mostly sunny to increasing cloudy to light sprinkles. The high temp was 100 at 2:30 PM. This area has been ravaged by drought and heat for the past 4 or 5 years. I haven’t had a productive visit at this location since late July 2017. Very little nectar source was seen. No water was seen.

Very humid with downpouring rain,with temps in 80s. Had a female Monarch emerge from chrysalis. Another Monarch visited the certified butterfly garden #2490.

8am-noon, 80 deg, calm

Meadow garden primarily, but also areas in the Idea garden and vegetable gardens

Visited August 4-6. Partly cloudy most of the time. Rained in the afternoons on the 5th & 6th. Temps ranged from 57 to 62 degrees. Winds were not a factor.

Visited August 4-6. Partly cloudy most of the time. Rained in the afternoons on the 5th & 6th. Temps ranged from 57 to 62 degrees. Winds were not a factor.

Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy, temps between 58-60 degrees, breezy at times. Overall activity was slow, especially at the lower elevations. Saw the majority of species near or over 12,000 feet elevation

Also Snowberry Clearwing

12:55-2:05, partly sunny, high 80’s, breezy

9am-noon, 85deg, calm

This has been a very big year for Cabbage Whites. It has also been a big year for Checkered Whites, which I had not recorded here before. It seems that the Checkered Whites like to perch, mostly on black mustard, whereas the cabbages perch briefly, if at all. When I see a white perching, almost always it’s a Checkered White.

Weather was partly cloudy-cloudy, 82°-75°, 8mph wind gusts-A storm chased us out of the preserve.
Surveyed from 11:00am-1:00pm

R. Spink, S. Rutgers, T. Rutgers, K. Rutgers

Started around 3:30pm

Frits were flying as well.

Spent a good portion of the morning poking around along the dirt road and riparian aspen habitat near a friend’s house. I was excited to get some photos of the female Great Spangled Fritillary (subspecies charlottii) in the area. I also saw two Hemileuca moths flying, but couldn’t identify the species as three species fly in the area.

Hundreds of rabbitbrush shrubs were blooming at this site, and I understand they bloom right through the end of October.

10:45-12:45, partly sunny, 80-90 degrees.

Two male and two female Monarchs emerged this morning and visited cert garden #2490. A female Black Swallowtail and Peck Skippers enjoyed the zinnias, lantanas, arizona blanket, columbine, phlox, bee balm, pearl everlasting, yarrow, herbs, sunflowers, coneflowers,and milkweed plants along with many other flowers!

“Butterfly Goldmine of the Midwest”

There were lots of grasshoppers of all sizes leaping off the trail as I approached, but very few butterflies were on the trail today.

Sunny, very hot, high 90’s, 11:20-12:50

Sightings of many large lime-colored Sulphurs.

Had 4 or 5 Giant Swallowtail larva on Rue. Also had one adult Giant Swallowtail dead across the path from the larva. A Snowberry Clearwing was also seen.

Two unidentified Orange Frits.

Amazing couple hours with so many butterflies.

The sightings were over a four-day backpacking trip to the area. We were camped along a ridge at 10,000 feet, but I was able to hike along the ridge and down to Green Creek to see what way flying.

Partly sunny skies with 87degrees late afternoon. Monarchs flying around cert garden #2490. Temp of 86 degrees. 6 swallowtails that have been raised outdoors in cages were released -3 male & 3 female. Same applies to 2 male Monarchs

A Monarch was flying around in a front yard filled with black-eyed-susan and coneflower plants.

First Ocola Skipper of the year.

Partly cloudy, mid 70’s, around 10:30 am

(11-121) Overcast and temp near 90. Western Pygmy-Blues have been found throughout the county.

Leaderless Walks - 5 participants. Sunny, warm in the 80’s.

Mostly sunny, breezy, low 80s. Nice variety considering the short time out (just over 1 hour), plus someone had unfortunately mowed 2 large fields full of nectar sources. Sleepy Orange numbers are increasing, but still no Cloudless Sulphur sightings in this location this year.

Obs. made from 9:15 to 6:15, partly to mostly sunny and 74-82 degrees. Grass skippers far fewer than normal. Butterfly garden a bit overgrown but still fairly active.

I spent a short time here waiting for it to warm up.The Viceroy didn’t show a very strong line when opened.

Today I walked to a new location in my neighborhood, finding several of the usual suspects. When I got home, there was a Western Tiger Swallowtail and a Rufous Hummingbird on my Zinnias.

10:00-11:00, sunny, breezy, low to mid 80’s.

0840-1130, 2.8 miles

Saw one Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly in my Proven Winners Vista Bubblegum Petunias.

9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Weather: 80°-91°, winds 2-5 mph. Partly cloudy to cloudy. Lots of recent rain and nectar sources including mistflower, blackroot, milkweed, frog fruit, Barbara’s Buttons. LCooper, EPerry, NPrine, DJSmith.

Sunny, high 80’s

Embudito Canyon around 8-9 am. Sunny, mid 70’s.

Mostly sunny, light breeze, 80 degrees. Short loop for a little over an hour total time. Very dry conditions hurting nectar sources. but overall decent numbers.

Very productive day, with a lot of seep willow coming into bloom.

I saw more than 75 white butterflies in flight, a mix of Cabbage Whites and Checkered Whites. I also saw another new species, a Lilac-bordered Copper.

10:25-noon, partly sunny, mid 80’s.

2 were at the Arkansas River waterfront and one was up the trail.

Temps in 70’s with low humidity. Found Monarch eggs and placed them in a cage on patio. Three Monarchs visited cert butterfly garden #2490. Two more came out of chrysalides late morning.

Overcast with temps in the 70’s and low humidity

Have seen this last year and did not get a picture.

0900-1400, surveyed all of Andrews Road

Quite warm, near 90 degrees. Thankful to see a bright orange Unsilvered Fritillary flying among the many scruffy Coronis.

A surprise, two battling Ringlets really went at it, tussling their way high up into the sky, perhaps 80 feet up or higher when I lost sight of them.

94 degrees, partially cloudy.

Less butterflies overall than on 8/5 because the red clover and other nectar dying back but still as many species of them. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail & Cabbage Whites are estimates.

Speedy, erratic duskywing flying low around the pollinator garden. This duskywing has reddish tones on dorsal side; dark basal area; no dark “fingers” outside the subapicals; last subapical widely separated from the others. A first for this area, this far north.

The day was hot and breezy, approximately 85º, sunny to partly cloudy.

As opposed to the Checkered White this one has more markings on Forewing

River bottoms and nearby Tingley Beach fishing ponds. Sunny, mid 70’s

I had a few hours to spend here, and I found but was not able to check the road leading to the Headquarters, which had loads of blooming clover, as time ran out for me.

We were with Bart Jones who spotted a Harvester our target for the day but we were unable to get a photo!

From 3-5 p.m.

From 10:15-2:30

Harvester was seen along Bridle Path between Northwestern and Bells Mill Road.

Mostly open weedy fields with loads of wildflowers in rolling hills setting, along with some trees at the Susquehanna River cliffs area. Nice wide paths throughout and lowland water areas.

With Clinton Gibson
Hot and humid; 9:30 - 11:30
We looked for Western Pygmy-Blues and found the larval host, Suaeda linearis, but no blues.

I was playing disc golf with our grandson and not expecting to see a Marine Blue, but on the 17th fairway I saw a blue and took my advice to always look at them and it was a Marine Blue! I had Frank watch it while I got my iPhone ready and I was able to get this documentation shot. This is the fourth location I have seen them this year after 35+ years of butterflying in Wisconsin without seeing one.

Liatris beginning to bloom

Sunny 96 degrees - started around 3pm
Did not finish the trail due to a trailside bull moose about 1/4 mile from the end.
Thimbleberries are ripe - yummy!

Sunny, humid and 82. Various butterflies visiting certified garden #2490. Light winds.

Sunny, upper 70s, light breeze. Yard butterfly…another yellow/black swallowtail seen at a distance.

78-82 degrees from 9:30-3 pm.

Today there was a bit of everything from sunshine to overcast to downpouring rain. Temp of 84 and humid. A variety of visitors to cert butterfly garden.

The Giant Swallowtail was a first for this year and not often seen here, as the last and only other sighting was on 08/28/19 DCQ

Partly cloudy, light breeze, mid-80s. Lunch stop.

(15-100) Found both Eastern & Western Pygmy-Blues in the park this afternoon, though the WPBlues were not nearly in the numbers they were 4 weeks ago.

Partly cloudy, light breeze, 80s. Seen along several locations along the coastal highway.

Sightings made between 9:30 - 1:30 in alpine zone on Trail Ridge Road, a little below and above 12,000 feet. High 40s to low 50s, mostly sunny at first then clouding over.

0900-1230, 3.5 miles.

Yuma Skipper the first in my yard. Now 47 species at home.

partly cloudy, low 80’s

Eastern Comma a newly minted, fall-spring, male

The Giant Swallowtail larva are last instars now and one was 20 feet away getting ready to change into a chrysalis on the garage door. There are also now a few first instar Black Swallowtail larva on the same rue as the remaining two last instar Giants. My friend had an adult Giant in the yard in the am before I got there.

12:30 - 2:00, mostly cloudy and showers with brief sunny breaks.

We only knew about this place from Venice Kelly’s reports to the NABA Sightings site. So guess who we ran into - Venice Kelly! Venice, who was conducting a NABA survey, mentioned that she had seen a female Scudder’s Sulphur. She took us to the area where she had seen it but the rain started to come down hard, causing us to run back to our car. When the sun came out briefly a little later, we raced back to the spot and got it. The Scudder’s Sulphur has a very restricted range.

I only noticed the red fringe on the Pine White’s HW in the photo, indicating that it’s a female.

I initially thought this was a Purplish Copper but an expert said it’s a Dorcas Copper of the subspecies “sangremar” (Tharsalea dorcas sangremar).

Loads of Carolina Redroot, Tall Elephantsfoot, & Pineland Chaffhead for nectar, & the butterflies were taking advantage of it

Hot and dry, little to see at present.

Barber’s Point to Lakeview and Nealy’s Point. Silver-spotted Skippers feeding on New York Ironweed.

I went for a very short walk around my yard, then sat on my stone wall to photograph the hummingbirds. Almost as soon as I sat down, an Atlantis Fritillary flew into my Zinnias, the first fritillary I’ve seen in the yard.

Late morning, partly sunny, high 80’s.

(10-210) Frogfruit was the main nectar source.

Common Buckeye not often seen in my yard.

Great stretch of road, with gorgeous scenery, butterflies, and Golden Eagles. Love the green and orange colors of the Common Branded Skipper.

Mostly sunny, light breeze, 80s. Observations while on a hike with the kids on the grassy ski trails.

Majority of sightings from the meadow garden, but the Giant ST was in the Idea Garden on phlox.

0830-0945, 1.5 miles

unfortunately very brief visit before the thunderstorms started. Park has a lot of potential

quick check of the butterfly garden before rains started

Sunny and 87 late afternoon
A pair of Monarchs visiting cert butterfly garden #2490. Also a male Black Swallowtail visited

Sunny and 84 degrees in the early afternoon.

Sunny and temps in 80’s.
Four Monarchs released after emerging from pupa

Dispersing Coronis Fritillaries reliably come through our backyard about this time every year. Only one so far, though.

Sun with scattered clouds and 61° at 3:30pm. We’ve had several weeks of overcast, rainy weather and cool temperatures. The sun broke through the clouds this afternoon and warmed the backyard, so I checked for autumn Nymphalidae. I had a brief sighting of a Mourning Cloak that fluttered along the cottonwoods beside the creek behind the yard, and then disappeared among the trees on the opposite bank.

Partly sunny, 80 degrees

1000-1400, 4.5 miles along North Grade Road

One invasive Butterfly Bush 3:50-4:20 pm.

Sunny, mid 60’s. Only the 2nd pygmy blue I’ve seen this year.

Tailed Orange was wet season summer form.

Common Sootywing NOT common at this site. I cannot recall ever seeing one here before over hundreds of trips. Dun Skipper is second brood which has occurred here only the past two or three years and is apparently only a partial second brood.

1530-1630, 0.5 miles. Only a Quick check of blooming Bidens near parking area before the thunderstorms started. Originally planned to hike 3 miles center loop trail. Also good diversity of Grasshopper and Wasp species

Late afternoon…sunny, calm, low 90s. Short 1 hour loop. Drastic drop in swallowtail numbers over the last week or so. Sachem numbers climbing.

Just saw a beautiful Black Swallowtail 

9 AM - 2 PM, hot and sunny, low 90s by the time we left. Not too many butterflies, we came here primarily for birds. It was interesting that the most common butterfly was Western Pygmy-Blue.

Sunny, low 70’s

11:15-12:20 sunny, high 80’s

Long hike through a stream with boulders to navigate. We first thought the second image was Gold Costa Skipper but believe it is a Dorantes Longtail.