February 2015 Sightings

With Dusty Rhodes (photo); partly cloudy. 74-78F.

Full sun, 78F. 9-11AM. Winds calm. Impressive showing given our very cool nights (approx. 50F).

Today Dave Bartholomew, David Rawlinson, and I scouted Sunol for early fliers.

Sunny and warmer,winds were southerly.Afternoon temps were mid 60s

Sunny, Temps 65-72 FL (28)

Stopped at first saddle (~2.4 miles)

Above normal temps continue.

Much warmer start this morning,sightings are becoming
more numerous as we warm into spring.Beach rosemary has started blooming,and had Cloudless Sulphurs visiting most of the day.

Chamber of Commerce weather. Sunny skies 70-75. Lots of bidens available for nectar. Checked the area where the Hammock Skipper had been last week, but negative results. Today’s Obscure Skipper seemed a bit early. It is regular in the park. FL (29)

It was another nice day;but the next few days will be a lot colder(for us).This day was in the low 70s, and the next several will only be in the upper 50s.

With Karen Finch. Temp. mid-60s, full sun. Variegated Fritillaries were spotted in a field full of native passion vines.

Painted Lady a fresh hatch, not a migrant.

67F

The day warmed more than forecast,it made into the mid 60s. There was a good mix today.
Mockingbirds were having as much of a problem catching a meal of Question Marks, as I had catching a photo of one.

Temp reached 72 with a light breeze.

68-71F

67F, mostly sunny.

65F The Painted Ladies were fresh, not migrants.

68F
mustard white
also one painted lady

30s am but warmed into the mid 60s. Sunny and windy from the SW.

Temp in low 70s

10 unidentified Commas

Mating pair of Queens around 2 p.m.

Mostly sunny high temps in lower 60s.

w/Lori. Another cool night and so nothing started flying until noon when temps reached the 70s. FL(37).

70s light breeze

2 unidentified whites

Mark Adams anti spent some time after the AAAS meeting in San Jose to explore for early butterflies in the South Bay. We were disappointed that Alum Rock was closed on Mondays, and with it our best hope for Sonoran Blues. But we did manage a good mix of species at Sunol Regional Wilderness under clear skies and temps in upper 70s.

Very warm weather of near 80 degrees has kicked off many species on the wing several weeks early.

60F

75-84 deg. F, light winds

Surveyed with Bill and Ginger Shepard. Started at 1145, 60F with sun just breaking through clouds. Warmed up to 66F.

62-65F

With Dusty Rhodes (photo). Walked 2 hrs mid-day when temp jumped to mid 70s. Hairstreaks were nectaring on native Blueberry.

60F
The Painted Lady was fresh but smaller than a Cabbage White.

sunny and warm, 85 F
windy AM 15-25, light winds PM

Very windy with gusts up to 25 mph so not many on the wing.

Today was the 2nd consecutive day in the 70s,with lows that stayed in the low 60s. This triggered some early emergence of our local species.These are dwarfs when compared to later broods. They are less 1/2 the size of their warmer weather parents and offspring; two of the best examples are the Black Swallowtail and Variegated Fritillary,both observed on this day.

w/B.Ahern. Campers told us on the morning of the 20th temps reached 27 at daybreak. Things were fairly slow today with only a few thistles in partial bloom.

Low 60s light breeze. First skippers of the year.

Low 80’s and virtually no wind. Great area! Most exciting was one Monarch, the first we have encountered in Texas this year!

62,59F

A high of 63, partly cloudy with gusty winds. All except Monarch were seen hilltopping.

62F

66F

Sunny day. Ocean Breezes in ravine area on top of cliffs at El Matador State Beach. Silvery Blue was just flying around and occasionally landing on different plants. It didn’t appear to be feeding except maybe briefly on mustard. Lots of yellow aster wild flowers, mustard, sage brush and other plants in the area.

67F and sunny before giving way to cloudy skies.

66F

69F and breezy.

62F

I saw this guy hill-topping on a creosote. Very unusual for this area and this time of year.

54F felt warmer

Long Pine Key area.