December 2018 Sightings

Besides a single adult Polydamas there were 4 caterpillars on Dutchman’s Pipe. The one in the photograph I believe is the fifth instar. It was quite big. The others were smaller.

At Jack Watson Nature trail. With Leigh Williams

Cold weather at beginning of November reduced plants and butterflies here. Density of butterflies was low but persistence found 27 species.

We found 31 species. 82 degrees and partly cloudy.

Only one comma seen at Chilo, rest seen at Meldahl. Sunny, 66 degrees, very windy. A week ago saw 10 Orange Sulphurs and a Cabbage White at Meldahl. Probably the last butterflies for the year.

seen from 10:30 a.m. to noon

Northwest hammock and field only. The most Monk Skippers we have seen in one area. Some were worn, some very fresh and some mating. With Leigh Williams.

Hour and a half. 26 species. (Butterflies and cookies! It doesn’t get any better than this!)

75 degrees, sun subdued by moderate clouds. 39 species. It was great fun to see so many Red-bordered Pixies!

About 75 degrees, sunny and no wind. Afternoon. 19 species. Few flowers except for small ones in mowed areas. The only skippers seen were Checkered-Skippers.

The afternoon Butterfly Walk was led by Rick Snider. About 3 hours. About a dozen of us. We found 32 species plus a dead Gray Hairstreak and dead Julia’s Skipper.

An earlier walk, mainly in the woods, yielded no butterflies in my usual early spring areas, however later at 14:30 just a hundred feet away in the edge of a harvested corn field 2 Commas were seen, with one photo.

10:30am-12:30

Sunny, 78 degrees, somewhat breezy. We found 44 species. Buckeyes of any kind have been scarce. The Whirlabout was female. Our best find was a Mexican Yellow that had settled down for the day, at around 3:30 or so. About 8 inches above ground. Red-bordered Pixies were common!!

Cool, breezy and partly cloudy. Blue Porter weed and Sea Lavender blooming all along the beach.

Sunny, temp around 61 degrees.

This Pipevine Swallowtail was in a lichen covered valley oak. A second was also I the same tree higher up, bright green as well. Normally, this is a very abundant species. This spring and summer numbers were fairly low.

Sipping our winter flowers