July 2015 Sightings

Cool, sunny, between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

mines road pullout. Approx mp 6.24. Water trough and emergency call box at location. Noted while birding

With Jane Lampkin
Partial sun, hot and humid.
Just like the old days years ago, when one could see Hoary Edge and Compton’s Tortoiseshell here both in the same day.

First Long-tailed Skipper and Delaware Skipper of the season. So far this season, 25 species now identified in my backyard.

In the butterfly garden.

Photos were taken on my iPhone. Sorry they are upside down.

The Atlantis Fritillary was the unsilvered type. The silvered type also flies in this hills but I haven’t seen it at this location.
Hike was from about 1 to 2:30 PM, sunny, mid 80s. It is very wet in the Black Hills this year. Probably the wettest I’ve seen in the past 20 years!

Multiple blue butterflies were feeding at Erigonum at native plant restoration area near hiking path below dam at Lake Los Carneros County Park. Sunny day with temps in the 80’s F.

This butterfly visited my garden this am to drink water on the asperagus fern.

For this season, 3 new species today including the Ocola Skipper, the American Lady, and the Little Glassywing.

Woodland Hills is an abandoned golf course that the township has purchased as open space to be left natural. It is an excellent butterflying place.

Just had to see the Regals today. We couldn’t get any to sit on the flowers long enough to get a photo, but one sat on the scat nicely! Bob referred to the one with the three species of fritillaries as the Tri-frit-ca.

Elevation: 10700-11940ft
Checkered White and Anise Swallowtails hilltopping.

Milkweed in various stages of bloom, some past, some peak and some just starting.

Walked thru a meadow within 1 mile of road.

Observations made between 2:30 & 4:15 p.m. with mostly cloudy skies.

Observations made between 9 a.m & 2 p.m. over most of the mountain.

1;30-6:30 pm with temps in low 70s; began cloudy, eventually clearing.
Additional 8 unidentified Fritillaries

These are quite frequent in my yard this summer.

Every patch of milkweed was swarming with Striped Hairstreaks.

First pygmy-blues of the year at the park.

This Western Tiger Swallowtail shopped with us at the local Lowes Garden Shop, basking on zinnias.

First Clouded Skipper of the season. Low 70s, cloudy and rain.

Nice warm day some butterflies out and about. There were some arctic whites out as well.

10:00 to 12:00, Central Loop Trail, 3.5 miles

74° Sunny. Most Baltimore Checkerspots ever on the farm. The butterfly in the photos is an aberrant Pearl Crescent.

Two worn Little Wood-Satyrs seem late

High in the mid 70s, threat of rain.

10000 - 107700
Summer flyers (and flowers) not out yet

76F

80F

Observations made between 5:15 & 6:20 p.m.

Weekly survey with Alan Wells, included in the Rockland County Fourth of July count. With Della Wells, Michael Diederich, Nancy Slowik and Karen Nickeson. 65-76; 3 hours in bright sun. Variegated Fritillary was new for the site over a four year period of weekly surveys by John and Alan.

Observations made from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunny skies and low 70’s

Observations made between 2:45 & 3 p.m. Invasives severely crowding out the Common Milkweed here.

Observations made from 3:35 & 4:35 p.m. Hairstreak show has died down, but the G.S.Frits were everywhere.

Sunny, mid-70 degrees, 10-11:40 am.

Noon-2pm, sunny, 77 degrees

Sunny, 78 degrees, 2:30-4:30 pm
Great Spangled Fritillaries on every c. milkweed patch; one dark swallowtail also

Portion of Rockland County, NY 4th-of-July Count compiled by J.Lampkin. Too early in season for some specialties such as 2nd-brood Juniper HS. Hackberry Emperors again seen; maybe also too early for Horace’s D.w. which occur in area. Also hoping to find Compton T.-shell in this section, but some were seen for the count in Harriman S.P. Hairstreaks mostly Banded, & Striped had a nice showing. Some nectar sources just starting to bloom on power-lines sites. Hoary Edge always a nice find, anywhere. 1 Hobomok Skipper, very faded, rather late date around here. Exact no’s. of all spp. entered with final count tally.

8:20 to 10:00, Marsh Trail & Visitor Center grounds, with Charlie Fisher, Valeri Ponzo & Bill Pranty. Species seen while birding for target - nesting Smooth-billed Anis.

In the butterfly garden.

trail leading from visitor center. Observed while birding

Overcast/Thunderstorms. Temps mid to upper 60’s.

w/Brian Ahern. The Eufala Skippers were found along the roadside out in front of the park’s entrance. FL (121).

These butterflies were seen from 7/3 to 7/5.

The Cloudless Sulphur was the first one of the year. I do not see them every year.

From 5:00 - 6:00 PM.

See groups (4 or more) of Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies daily on my Asclepias plants (Tuberosa and Incarnata) Haven’t seen any Monarchs yet this season. =(

Partly to mostly cloudy with some hazy sun. Milbert’s Tortoiseshell was flushed and chased into a grassy field and then the woods by an Atlantis Fritillary.

Mostly cloudy with hazy sun.

Mostly cloudy with hazy sun.

Highlight was the Harvester found & photo’d. by K. Chaya, only the 2nd record for this park - this sighting less than 50 feet from where previous sighting took place, about 20 yrs. prior!
Also an uncommon in this park fritillary.

With Alan Wells, Della Wells and Jane Lampkin
Hazy Hot and Humid
Notable loss of meadow habitat due to reversion to forest over just a few years.
UNID Anglewing 2
Photo by Alan Wells

In the butterfly garden.

Here is the male Horace’s Duskywing to go along with the female from yesterday. The Fiery and Silver spotted skippers remain as well.

11 species of butterflies in the backyard garden today, a very good turnout. Bees of many kinds are thick and in the hundreds. Southern Buckeye, Vitex, Bee Balm and Agastache in full bloom and the big attraction.

The first Viceroy of the summer in the garden. Feeding on Milkweed alongside a Question Mark.

Single female Gulf Fritillary laid a significant number of eggs on our passion vine today. Eggs on many leaves and tendrils.

Hot, sunny, plenty of nectar - low diversity.

Thanks to Mary Beth Stowe for finding this beautiful Erato Heliconian.

Restored Bottomland hardwood forrest habitat.

New personal high counts for Bronze Coppers and Rare Skippers in the area.

From 12:00 2:00 PM.

Couldn’t get any pics, but did see a Mourning Cloak, a Great Spangled Fritillary, several Cabbage Whites, a few skippers, and an Harvester.

This butterfly seemed to just be waking up. It was 70 F on a July morning not too long after dawn.

Second day in a row a Gulf Fritillary laid eggs on our passion vine. First Eastern Tailed Blue sighted in the garden this season. They have been nearby for quite a while.

I have had many Red Admirals so far this summer.

With my two boys, wife, mother, and dog on our first stop on a trip to Washington. Hike was from about 10:00 AM to noon.

Cloudy, 80 degrees

Cloudy, 80 degrees, lots of nectar plants especially dogbane and milkweed.

Saw a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell sunning on the sidewalk

6 yellow Tigers at once on our Southern Buckeye, their numbers starting to increase steadily.

First time I had a Great Spangled Fritillary in my yard.

This is the 10th year of this count. Although we didn’t see the large numbers that we have come to expect, we did have 41 species, breaking the record of 39. Beautiful sunny day for butterflying, with the highs in the low 80s.

partly cloudy, from about 1:00 to 3:00

I don’t have numbers for the other species as they were fairly common at the location. I just indicated the species that I only found once.

Excellent weather for the regal tour!

Blue skies.

Weekly survey with Alan Wells. With Danny Albantides, Maha Katnani and Deb Kral.
Sun with some clouds 68-75.
Two Gray Hairstreaks doubles our four-year record high. ;-)
22 Mulberry Wings is a new count high.

Special thanks to Steven Glynn for the knowledge provided today. Metalmark was captured using cell phone camera.

Saw a monarch at the bush, but it wouldn’t let me take its picture. Also had a dozen red admirals on the bush and one tiger swallowtail. Had 3 days of cool damp weather. Today the butterflies enjoyed the sunshine too.

Late afternoon, 5pm to 5:30pm sightings

many Palamedes Swallowtails flying–larval foodplant,Red Bay, is common here

Red Admirals were seen at all sites; in some locations, up to 40+ could be seen nectaring at one time. All seen were in fresh condition. Some seemed to be moving away from the ocean area after NW winds came thru. Coral Hairstreaks mainly at Orange Milkweed but 1 also at Queen-Anne’s-Lace. American Copper was freshly-out 2nd brood here, same for E. T.-Blues, & Wild Indigo Duskywing was in a planting of Crown Vetch at Marine Park. Additional 20+++ skippers, including mostly “witch” types, possibly many were N. Broken-Dash. Many areas very lush with flowers & vegetation. Less common sightings: Viceroy & Little Wood Satyr, at coastal sites visited in afternoon.

Sunshine was scarce and so were the butterflies. Photos are from Lehman Creek Trail.

Two of the Tigers were dark form females.

Most of the Red Admirals were observed flying in from over the ocean. Given how far east this location is on Long Island, I have no idea where they were coming from. Maybe the NW winds had blown them out to sea and they were returning to land.

10:30 - 12:15, Central Loop Trail 3.5 miles. Added Dun Skipper to preserve list.

76-79F
Woodland Skipper - first of the year.

Mostly cloudy, 2:30-5:45

Sunny summer;quick stops at road sides patches of verbena.AM quick trip.

Checkered White colony area unfortunately has been cut and getting cleared, but some have jumped to nearby area and hopefully will continue.

Observations made here from 12 noon to 3 p.m.

Observations made between 3:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.

Observations made along Rt487 & The Hayfields area. Some of the Hayfields area is actually in Luzerne County.

Overcast and cool. Stayed there from 10:00 to 1:30. We ran into the Washington chapter of the NABA on their 4th of July butterfly count! Thanks for the watermelon!

Temp 80 degrees with mild winds.

Sunny summer showers.

Cool morning, flowers damp from overnight rain. Purplish Fritillaries were first to fly at 9:00, other butterflies did not appear until after 10:00. Nice variety, though.

Few flowers except milkweed and lantana.

Lifer Eastern Pygmy-Blue. Trip cut short by thunderstorms. Location same as Report by Ron Smith on June 10th

Temp 80 degrees with mild winds

The usual suspects seem to have made our garden home.

Sunny and hot.90+ Perfect butterfly weather.

The weather was less sunny than I had hoped, but it was warm & plenty of butterflies were flying.
11:00 am – 4:30 pm EDT
Partly sunny to cloudy, 79 – 84 deg F,
Wind 0-10 mph from the East
Hordes of Sachem.

vegetation still wet from recent rain, but a few butterflies were venturing out. Two Crescents declined to be photographed, but appeared to be a Pearl Crescent.

UnID’d sulphers

The number of butterflies flying is way down from the last 2 summers.

First time sightings on this trail for me: CA Tortoiseshell, Taxiles Skipper and European Skipper

Periodic survey, with Groundskeeper Matt Ceplo and Jane Lampkin
Sunny mid 80’s
Strong second brood of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails

Saw this graceful monarch in the backyard. Has lost the rich orange color. Was very humid and with hot temperatures today.

Only known Bronze Copper colony in Cumberland County also supporting a large Rare Skipper colony this year.

In the butterfly garden.

Early start with a lot of activity,fallowing PM thunder storms.

First indication that the recent Gulf Fritillary eggs on our passion vine is producing caterpillars (1-2mm long).

Unfortunately, no Common Branded Skipper, which I was hoping for, and had seen here before! Probably too early.

3—4 p.m. Windy & sunny.

My first Monarchs of the year - north of the international border - but I hadn’t been out looking for butterflies very much over the last couple of weeks; just moths at night!

I hiked the Elk Mountain Loop Trail three times for the exercise, and was rewarded by an abundance of Common Wood-Nymphs. Very little else to be seen.c

The Whites in the Magnolia Springs area has a 50/50 mix of Cabbage to Checkered Whites.

9 Gulf Fritillaries caterpillars. 2 of the Tigers are dark form females.

In the butterfly garden.

These butterflies were in area with wildflowers on business park property near hiking path and duck ponds. Sunny afternoon with temps in the 70’s F.

Observed in the butterfly garden.

Most of the butterflies were near the road and along the creek near the trailhead. Unsettled weather was not helpful.

Around the lake at forest edge were an abundance of asters and yellow composites. It seemed like there should have been an abundance of butterflies as well, but no. I only saw three on the flowers plus a few never-stopping blues.

8:40 AM - 12:10 PM. Only second Monarch I have seen at this location for 2015 - feeding on Butterfly Weed.

Gulf Fritillary caterpillars are common.

My last hike of the trip. I spent six hours hiking up the creek and back from 9:30 to 3:30. Sunny and in the mid 80s.

Backyard wildlife habitat