February 2015 Sightings
Laurel Rhodes
Highlands Hammock State Park
Highlands County, FL
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Barred Yellow 3
- Pearl Crescent 5
- White Peacock 4
- Carolina Satyr 10
- Clouded Skipper 2
Laurel Rhodes
Legacy Trail between Laurel Rd. and trail's north end; Oscar-Scherer State Park included.
Sarasota County, FL
Full sun, 78F. 9-11AM. Winds calm. Impressive showing given our very cool nights (approx. 50F).
- Cloudless Sulphur 2
- Barred Yellow 1
- Zebra Heliconian 9
- White Peacock 12
- Long-tailed Skipper 3
- Dorantes Longtail 4
- Horace's Duskywing 8
- White Checkered-Skipper 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 2
- Fiery Skipper 2
Ken Wilson
Sunol Regional Wilderness, Sunol
Alameda County, CA
Today Dave Bartholomew, David Rawlinson, and I scouted Sunol for early fliers.
- Mustard White 6
- Sara Orangetip 1
- Spring Azure 1
- Mylitta Crescent 1
- Satyr Comma 1
- Mourning Cloak 1
Ron Smith
Sawgrass Lake Park
Pinellas County, FL
- Spicebush Swallowtail 1
- Red Admiral 1
- Silver-spotted Skipper 1
Mark Salvato, Holly Salvato and Erica Henry
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park
Miami-Dade County, FL
- Palamedes Swallowtail 1
- Barred Yellow 1
- Little Yellow 3
- Bartram's Scrub-Hairstreak 4
- Red-banded Hairstreak 10
- Gulf Fritillary 2
- Zebra Heliconian 1
- Phaon Crescent 1
- Florida Leafwing 1
- Southern Broken-Dash 1
Jim Egbert
Plantation Rd Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
Sunny and warmer,winds were southerly.Afternoon temps were mid 60s
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Red Admiral 1
- Monarch 4
- Great Southern White 1
- Barred Yellow 11
- White M Hairstreak 1
- Gulf Fritillary 5
- Zebra Heliconian 1
- Phaon Crescent 1
- Pearl Crescent 3
- White Peacock 7
- Monarch 3
- Long-tailed Skipper 2
- Dorantes Longtail 9
- Horace's Duskywing 6
- Clouded Skipper 1
- Southern Skipperling 2
- Fiery Skipper 13
- Sachem 1
Tom Palmer
Stokes Marion Creek Preserve
Polk County, FL
- Zebra Swallowtail 1
- Black Swallowtail 1
- Little Yellow 1
- Ceraunus Blue 1
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Zebra Heliconian 1
- Pearl Crescent 2
- Common Buckeye 1
- Carolina Satyr 5
- Silver-spotted Skipper 2
- Long-tailed Skipper 1
- Dorantes Longtail 1
- Juvenal's Duskywing 1
- Horace's Duskywing 2
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 1
- Clouded Skipper 1
- Fiery Skipper 2
Jeanette Klodzen
Grandeur Peak Trail
Salt Lake County, UT
Stopped at first saddle (~2.4 miles)
Above normal temps continue.
- Mourning Cloak 1
- Milbert's Tortoiseshell 2
Jim Egbert
Plantation Rd Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
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.
- Cloudless Sulphur 5
- Monarch 4
Ron Smith
Fort De Soto County Park
Pinellas County, FL
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)
- Barred Yellow 5
- Dainty Sulphur 4
- Ceraunus Blue 1
- Gulf Fritillary 11
- Zebra Heliconian 1
- Phaon Crescent 14
- Red Admiral 1
- Common Buckeye 1
- White Peacock 6
- Long-tailed Skipper 3
- Dorantes Longtail 1
- Horace's Duskywing 15
- Common Checkered-Skipper 6
- Fiery Skipper 8
- Obscure Skipper 1
Jim Egbert
Plantation Rd Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
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.
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Monarch 5
Karl Legler
Falcon State Park
Zapata County, TX
- Southern Dogface 3
- Large Orange Sulphur 2
- Lyside Sulphur 4
- Little Yellow 1
- Dainty Sulphur 1
- Reakirt's Blue 1
- Phaon Crescent 7
- American Lady 1
- White Checkered-Skipper 6
- Eufala Skipper 1
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Sabal Palm Sanctuary
Cameron County, TX
- Southern Dogface 2
- Cloudless Sulphur 2
- Lyside Sulphur 5
- Gray Hairstreak 2
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 2
- Zebra Heliconian 1
- Phaon Crescent 2
- Red Admiral 2
- Carolina Satyr 15
- Brown Longtail 1
- Sickle-winged Skipper 1
- White Checkered-Skipper 8
- Laviana White-Skipper 2
- Fawn-spotted Skipper 1
- Clouded Skipper 9
- Fiery Skipper 2
Chris Tenney
NABA Butterfly Center
Hidalgo County, TX
- Pipevine Swallowtail 1
- Black Swallowtail 2
- Southern Dogface 3
- Cloudless Sulphur 2
- Large Orange Sulphur 1
- Lyside Sulphur 8
- Mexican Yellow 1
- Little Yellow 3
- Great Purple Hairstreak 1
- Gray Hairstreak 5
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 1
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 4
- Reakirt's Blue 1
- Red-bordered Pixie 1
- American Snout 18
- Gulf Fritillary 3
- Julia Heliconian 1
- Zebra Heliconian 1
- Bordered Patch 1
- Phaon Crescent 5
- Pearl Crescent 1
- American Lady 1
- Red Admiral 3
- Tropical Leafwing 1
- Empress Leilia 1
- Carolina Satyr 2
- Queen 11
- Brown Longtail 1
- Funereal Duskywing 1
- White Checkered-Skipper 6
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 3
- Laviana White-Skipper 5
- Turk's-cap White-Skipper 1
- Common Sootywing 3
- Julia's Skipper 1
- Fawn-spotted Skipper 3
- Clouded Skipper 6
- Southern Skipperling 2
- Fiery Skipper 2
- Eufala Skipper 3
Laurel Rhodes
T. Mabry Carlton Reserve in Venice FL
Sarasota County, FL
With Karen Finch. Temp. mid-60s, full sun. Variegated Fritillaries were spotted in a field full of native passion vines.
- Cloudless Sulphur 2
- Barred Yellow 1
- Little Yellow 3
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Ceraunus Blue 2
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Variegated Fritillary 2
- Phaon Crescent 1
- Pearl Crescent 6
- Red Admiral 1
- White Peacock 2
- Juvenal's Duskywing 3
John Heyse
Chevron Research, Point Richmond
Contra Costa County, CA
Painted Lady a fresh hatch, not a migrant.
- Cabbage White 1
- Painted Lady 1
- Orange Sulphur 2
- Acmon Blue 1
- Common Buckeye 4
Jim Egbert
Fort Morgan State Historic Park
Baldwin County, AL
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.
- Eastern Tailed-Blue 1
- American Snout common
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Question Mark common
- Common Buckeye common
- Monarch 6
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 2
- Mustard White 2
- Sara Orangetip common
- Spring Azure 1
- Sonoran Blue 3
- California Sister 1
- Common Ringlet 3
- Mustard White 4
- Cabbage White 1
- Sara Orangetip 3
- Satyr Comma 1
- Mourning Cloak 3
- Sara Orangetip 2
- Orange Sulphur 1
- Spring Azure 1
- Acmon Blue 2
- Mourning Cloak 2
- Common Buckeye 1
John Heyse
at home Crockett
Contra Costa County, CA
65F The Painted Ladies were fresh, not migrants.
- Painted Lady 2
- Common Buckeye 1
- Mustard White 1
- Painted Lady 1
Mark and Holly Salvato
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park
Miami-Dade County, FL
- Palamedes Swallowtail 1
- Little Yellow 3
- Bartram's Scrub-Hairstreak 2
- Red-banded Hairstreak 2
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Phaon Crescent 1
- Florida Leafwing 1
- Whirlabout 3
- Twin-spot Skipper 1
Jim Egbert
Plantation Rd Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
30s am but warmed into the mid 60s. Sunny and windy from the SW.
- Monarch 1
Brian Kirshner
Burleigh Murray State Park
San Mateo County, CA
Temp in low 70s
10 unidentified Commas
- Checkered White 1
- Mustard White 1
- Spring Azure 6
- Mylitta Crescent 2
- Satyr Comma 3
- Oreas Comma 3
- Red Admiral 2
- Common Buckeye 4
- Monarch 1
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Estero Llano Grande State Park
Hidalgo County, TX
Mating pair of Queens around 2 p.m.
- Cloudless Sulphur 2
- Lyside Sulphur 2
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Red Admiral 1
- Queen 10
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 3
- Laviana White-Skipper 1
- Question Mark 2
- Monarch 3
Ron Smith
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Collier County, FL
w/Lori. Another cool night and so nothing started flying until noon when temps reached the 70s. FL(37).
- Dainty Sulphur 5
- Fulvous Hairstreak 1
- Zebra Heliconian 7
- White Peacock 1
- Ruddy Daggerwing 1
- Soldier 1
- Dorantes Longtail 1
- Fiery Skipper 4
- Ocola Skipper 1
Brian Kirshner
San Bruno Mountain State Park
San Mateo County, CA
70s light breeze
2 unidentified whites
- Spring Azure 2
- Red Admiral 2
Rick Borchelt
Sunol Regional Wilderness
Alameda County, CA
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.
- Western Tiger Swallowtail 1
- Mustard White common
- Sara Orangetip common
- Orange Sulphur common
- Acmon Blue common
- Red Admiral 1
- Common Buckeye 5
- California Sister 1
- Common Ringlet 7
Dennis Holmes
Cline Gulch Rd near French Gulch
Shasta County, CA
Very warm weather of near 80 degrees has kicked off many species on the wing several weeks early.
- Anise Swallowtail 1
- Mustard White 5
- Sara Orangetip 15
- Brown Elfin 10
- Spring Azure 18
- Silvery Blue 2
- Green Comma 1
- 'Zephyr' Hoary Comma 3
- California Tortoiseshell abundant
- Mourning Cloak 4
- Painted Lady 1
- Monarch 1
Daniel Jones
Our yard in Weslaco
Hidalgo County, TX
- Lyside Sulphur 1
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 1
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 1
- Cassius Blue 2
- American Snout 1
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Elada Checkerspot 2
- Vesta Crescent 2
- Red Admiral 1
- Mournful Duskywing 2
- Funereal Duskywing 1
- White Checkered-Skipper 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 4
- Laviana White-Skipper 1
- Fiery Skipper 3
- Black Swallowtail 1
- Checkered White 2
- Orange Sulphur 2
- Southern Dogface 2
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Large Orange Sulphur 2
- Lyside Sulphur 10
- Little Yellow 3
- Gray Hairstreak 9
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 1
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 6
- Cassius Blue 2
- Reakirt's Blue 1
- American Snout 16
- Gulf Fritillary 4
- Julia Heliconian 1
- Vesta Crescent 3
- Phaon Crescent 8
- Pearl Crescent 2
- American Lady 1
- Red Admiral 4
- White Peacock 1
- Empress Leilia 1
- Carolina Satyr 1
- Monarch 2
- Queen 14
- Sickle-winged Skipper 1
- Funereal Duskywing 1
- White Checkered-Skipper 11
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 5
- Laviana White-Skipper 4
- Common Sootywing 1
- Fawn-spotted Skipper 2
- Clouded Skipper 12
- Southern Skipperling 2
- Fiery Skipper 4
- Eufala Skipper 6
Ken Wilson
Alum Rock Park, San Jose
Santa Clara County, CA
Surveyed with Bill and Ginger Shepard. Started at 1145, 60F with sun just breaking through clouds. Warmed up to 66F.
- Western Tiger Swallowtail 1
- Mustard White 3
- Sara Orangetip common
- Spring Azure 3
- Sonoran Blue 3
- Silvery Blue 2
- Mylitta Crescent 1
- Red Admiral 2
- Common Buckeye 1
- Common Ringlet common
Dennis Holmes
All along Cline Gulch Road which is just out of the town of French Gulch west of Redding
Shasta County, CA
- Mustard White 3
- Sara Orangetip 10
- Brown Elfin 8
- Spring Azure common
- 'Zephyr' Hoary Comma 2
- California Tortoiseshell 12
- Mourning Cloak 3
- Propertius Duskywing 6
- Mustard White 5
- Cabbage White 1
- Sara Orangetip 1
- Spring Azure 1
- Silvery Blue 2
- Mourning Cloak 1
Laurel Rhodes
T. Mabry Carlton Reserve, Venice FL
Sarasota County, FL
With Dusty Rhodes (photo). Walked 2 hrs mid-day when temp jumped to mid 70s. Hairstreaks were nectaring on native Blueberry.
- Black Swallowtail 1
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Barred Yellow 2
- Little Yellow 1
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Red-banded Hairstreak 1
- Gulf Fritillary 2
- Pearl Crescent 2
- Common Buckeye 1
- Viceroy 2
- Queen 1
- Horace's Duskywing 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 1
John Heyse
Carquinez Shoreline Park, Crockett
Contra Costa County, CA
60F
The Painted Lady was fresh but smaller than a Cabbage White.
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Spring Azure 3
- Painted Lady 1
- Monarch 1
Chris Tenney
National Butterfly Center
Hidalgo County, TX
sunny and warm, 85 F
windy AM 15-25, light winds PM
- Black Swallowtail 2
- Checkered White 3
- Southern Dogface 1
- Large Orange Sulphur 2
- Lyside Sulphur 5
- Little Yellow 4
- Mimosa Yellow 1
- Gray Hairstreak 8
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 9
- Reakirt's Blue 1
- Fatal Metalmark 1
- American Snout 16
- Gulf Fritillary 3
- Vesta Crescent 3
- Phaon Crescent 12
- Pearl Crescent 2
- Red Admiral 6
- White Peacock 1
- Tropical Leafwing 1
- Monarch 2
- Queen 14
- Brown Longtail 1
- Two-barred Flasher 1
- Funereal Duskywing 1
- White Checkered-Skipper 9
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 7
- Laviana White-Skipper 5
- Common Sootywing 1
- Fawn-spotted Skipper 4
- Clouded Skipper 8
- Southern Skipperling 4
- Fiery Skipper 2
- Eufala Skipper 5
Dennis Holmes
Along Trinity Mtn Road, 2 miles North of French Gulch.
Shasta County, CA
Very windy with gusts up to 25 mph so not many on the wing.
- Mustard White 5
- Sara Orangetip 6
- Brown Elfin 4
- Spring Azure 5
- 'Zephyr' Hoary Comma 1
- Propertius Duskywing 5
Jim Egbert
East Canal, Gulf Shores,and Roscoe Rd Orange Beach
Baldwin County, AL
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.
- Black Swallowtail 2
- Cabbage White 3
- Orange Sulphur 2
- Cloudless Sulphur common
- Sleepy Orange 1
- American Snout 2
- Variegated Fritillary 1
- American Lady 4
- Common Buckeye 2
- Common Checkered-Skipper 2
- Fiery Skipper 1
Ron Smith
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve
Okeechobee County, FL
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.
- Black Swallowtail 12
- Cloudless Sulphur 8
- Barred Yellow 4
- Zebra Heliconian 2
- Phaon Crescent 7
- Pearl Crescent 2
- Common Buckeye 5
- Carolina Satyr 13
- Long-tailed Skipper 1
- Horace's Duskywing 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 7
- Clouded Skipper 1
- Fiery Skipper 1
- Whirlabout 1
- Sachem 1
- Palmetto Skipper 1
Brian Kirshner
Burleigh Murray State Park
San Mateo County, CA
Low 60s light breeze. First skippers of the year.
- Pale Swallowtail 1
- Mustard White 6
- Field Crescent 3
- Mylitta Crescent 6
- Satyr Comma 3
- Oreas Comma 2
- Red Admiral 2
- Common Buckeye 3
- Two-banded Checkered-Skipper 3
Karl and Dorothy Legler
National Butterfly Center, at Mission.
Hidalgo County, TX
Low 80’s and virtually no wind. Great area! Most exciting was one Monarch, the first we have encountered in Texas this year!
- Black Swallowtail 1
- Checkered White 1
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Large Orange Sulphur 1
- Lyside Sulphur 1
- Little Yellow 5
- Gray Hairstreak 2
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 1
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 1
- Ceraunus Blue 1
- American Snout 8
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Julia Heliconian 1
- Texan Crescent 2
- Vesta Crescent 4
- Phaon Crescent 12
- Red Admiral 2
- White Peacock 1
- Monarch 1
- Queen 6
- Funereal Duskywing 1
- White Checkered-Skipper MANY
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper MANY
- Laviana White-Skipper 3
- Clouded Skipper 1
- Southern Skipperling 1
- Fiery Skipper 1
- Cabbage White 8
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Silvery Blue 3
- Mourning Cloak 2
- Painted Lady 2
- Monarch 1
Ken Wilson
Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont
Alameda County, CA
A high of 63, partly cloudy with gusty winds. All except Monarch were seen hilltopping.
- Anise Swallowtail 2
- Gray Hairstreak 2
- Painted Lady 2
- Red Admiral 1
- Monarch 1
- Pipevine Swallowtail 1
- Orange Sulphur 3
- Silvery Blue 5
- Acmon Blue 1
- Common Buckeye 11
- Monarch 1
- Pipevine Swallowtail 1
- Anise Swallowtail 1
Christopher Leslie
El Matador State Beach
Los Angeles County, CA
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.
- Silvery Blue 1
Ken Wilson
Sunol Regional Wilderness, Sunol
Alameda County, CA
67F and sunny before giving way to cloudy skies.
- Cabbage White 4
- Sara Orangetip common
- Orange Sulphur 2
- Spring Azure 2
- Silvery Blue 1
- Acmon Blue 2
- Mylitta Crescent 2
- Painted Lady 3
- Red Admiral 1
- California Sister 1
- Common Ringlet common
- Propertius Duskywing 4
- Cabbage White 1
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Painted Lady 3
- Western Tiger Swallowtail 3
- Cabbage White 3
- Sara Orangetip common
- Spring Azure 2
- Sonoran Blue 4
- Silvery Blue 3
- Acmon Blue 1
- Mylitta Crescent 2
- Common Ringlet common
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco
Hidalgo County, TX
- Checkered White 2
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Little Yellow 4
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 1
- Fatal Metalmark 1
- American Snout 1
- Phaon Crescent 1
- Queen 5
- White Checkered-Skipper 1
- Laviana White-Skipper 2
- Clouded Skipper 1
- Propertius Duskywing 1
John Gorey
On SRPMIC land near the Salt River
Maricopa County, AZ
I saw this guy hill-topping on a creosote. Very unusual for this area and this time of year.
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 1
- Pipevine Swallowtail 2
- Cabbage White 1
- Sara Orangetip 1
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Painted Lady 1
- Palamedes Swallowtail 2
- Great Southern White 1
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Large Orange Sulphur 23
- Barred Yellow 2
- Little Yellow 2
- Bartram's Scrub-Hairstreak 2
- Gulf Fritillary 5
- Zebra Heliconian 1
- Common Buckeye 1
- White Peacock 1
- Florida Duskywing 1
- Whirlabout 1
- Palatka Skipper 1
- Monk Skipper 1
- Twin-spot Skipper 4
With Dusty Rhodes (photo); partly cloudy. 74-78F.