March 2018 Sightings

Full sun low 60s

Calm and Sunny!

Following Linda Cooper’s report, headed out. Weather was sunny, but breezy.

Late afternoon at the Arboretum, mostly sunny and cool with temperatures in the upper 60’s F. Abundant nectar sources.

Sightings from butterfly garden and nature trail areas only.

Areas are just outside the entrance to Everglades NP

Much of Abita Creek Preserve was burned over the winter. Early sightings for Henry’s Elfins as well as odd b/c there were no redbud trees in sight.

With L Williams and L Evans. 1:50pm to 3:15pm.

The Zebra Cross-streak was initially found the previous day by Chris Balboni.

22 species. 87 degrees. Only 11 species in the butterfly garden which suffered damage this winter. Rest of species found in other open areas of Park.

Sightings from nature center area only

Road still closed by USFS, but open to walking.

All sightings near Santa Rita Lodge. Cool but sunny, light breeze, no obvious nectar sources.

Mostly sunny, 70f

60F

60F fresh hatch, not a migrant

14 species. 86 degrees and partly sunny. Conditions are dry and limited flowers.

Enjoyed a return visit, as I left the state. Weather was overcast and fifteen degrees cooler than a week ago. Still nice activity.

Sunny, hot in the mid 80’s F along the Blackhawk Canyon Trail. Most sightings were along the very lower end of the trail near its juncture with Sonoita Creek trail along the wash. Many were in conjunction with a few blooming bushes of Barkley’s Ragwort.

Dry conditions, almost no flowers except some Desert Lavender bushes. Bob Gorman joined us on Tuesday, Ken Wilson came out Wednesday, and we managed 12 species over a two-day period. Tiny Checkerspot noticeably absent.

60F

Spring Azure

w/ John & Ivy Gibbons.

Warm cool midday in the canyon, few nectar sources beyond scattered Fairy Duster (Calliandra). Also noted was an unidentified hairstreak well up in the canopy of an oak. Both male and females azures were in flight, mostly puddling in damp spots along the stream (as were the scallop-wings).

Mostly cloudy, moderate to gusty winds, 69 degrees. Only nectar source is fading desert lavender. Vegetation conditions look more like November than March. Little to no rain the past calendar year.

Visiting lantana blossoms near the Visitor Center

About 75 degrees, low wind, sunny. 29 species. Nice concentration of butterflies. Bordered Patch photo by Dorothy.

65

65F

63-67F

Periods of clouds and sun, low 70s

61F

Mostly cloudy, light winds, 71 degrees. Conditions are very dry. No nectar source seen.

Sunny became cloudy around noon, high 60s.

Sunny clear day at 8000 ft! 54F

With L Williams.

98 degrees! Sunny. 36 species. Quit early because of heat! Substantial northward migration of Checkered Whites along north-running road even though breeze was from the north! (Thanks to Mike Rickard for pointing out the Crimson Patch and Long-tailed Skipper.)

62F

61F
mustard white - first one at this site for 5 years.

sunny, low 50s

1st butterfly of 2018!!

With L Williams. 10:30am to 1:00pm.

From 1 PM to 3:30 PM I would like comments on the Roadside-Skipper as it has field marks of Bell’s.

Sunny around 60s

Hiked 2.5 miles, 10:00 to 11:40. Temp’s warmed to mid 60’s. Sunny

Three different butterflies, all Painted Ladies, visiting rosemary and grape hyacinth.

Partly cloudy, 60f

12:45 - 4:15 p.m. Weather: 78-85 degrees, clear and breezy. Area very dry but recent burned areas have greened up nicely. Thistles were nectar source. Linda Cooper

21 species. About 90 degrees. Partly sunny. Karl’s photo of Celia’s, Dainty Sulphurs and Large Orange Sulphur were seen only north of the border fence.

Hairsteak located in between marsh and scrub habitat.

One of the first and few days this year with a little built up warmth in the sunshine, albeit not much. Maybe broke 50F, with extra warmth in protected sunny glades.

Sunny, mid 50’s. Also saw 70 winter firefly adults and 2 Springtime Treetop Flasher firefly larvae.

Sunny, mid-upper 50’s. The FOS Spring Azure was extremely fresh.

Sunny, high near 60.

Sunny and 56 degrees.

11:00-12:30. Hiked 2 miles. temps in high 70’s and partly cloudy.

Partly cloudy, low 70s

Common Brown-Skipper (Callimormus saturnus). First confirmed record of this species for the United States. On US checklists for many years as hypothetical.

Saw on flowers around the parking lot.

Party sunny, 66 degrees, breezy. Still not much playing here at this location. Mustard and Lotus are blooming. All butterflies and blooms were seen on a hilltop. This location has gotten only 0.14 inch of rain during the past week despite a recent storm that hit Southern California.

59F

Full sun, 70f

Not lots of leps, but a few of the more uncommon ones the park offers. Bidens was in bloom as always, but it was thistles and prickly pear cactus flowers in which many species were found nectaring.

Red-crescent Scrub-Hairstreak on scorpion-tail.

55F

Lots of thistle, but very few butterflies

53F Painted Lady
later 59F the Pipevine Swallowtails

With Dusty Rhodes. Temp 78F, winds 5-10 mph., full sun. Two hours. Nectar sources: Frogfruit, Thistle, Blackroot, Pineland Heliotrope, Bidens, Fleabane.

45° breezy full sun on rutted puddled path in the woods, a mere 12 feet from Maryland. First for this year.

First of Year for both

A short hour walk under cloudy conditions and temps near 60.

65F The Painted Lady was a migrant flying fast to the northwest.

Partly cloudy, temps 60-72. Nothing in bloom, but lots to see. Photo credits- Ahern: Azure; Smith- E.Pine Elfin & Gemmed; Harrod- Texan, Henry’s Elfin & S.Pearly-eyed.

10:00-3:30, pleasantly warm. Wildflowers are finally getting started. Only butterfly unexpected today was a last minute Monarch fly-by.

Full sun, high 60s, weedy local walking area.

Saw this Metalmark Butterfly at the visitor’s center.

Daisy Fleabane, Pickerelweed main nectar sources

Warm day, very little breeze for a change. Lots of wildflowers in bloom, butterflies nectaring mostly on yarrow and lomatium. Main attraction today was the Bay Checkerspot which is being reintroduced after an absence at this location for many years.

70F

Sunny, 70s, but only had an hour or so to search. Found a beautiful and cooperative coachwhip.

15 species. 80’s. Sunny.

Full sun up to low 80s. Area appears very dry.

Saw an Eastern Comma at Fontenelle Forest. It was around 50 degrees. Weather has not been good for butterflying so was surprised to see a butterfly

This Comma seen directly on PA/MD line in the woods.

Seen on road to McPhearson Lake.

High in the low 80s. Very windy. Unseasonably warm weather after several weeks of below normal temperatures.

on my patio sunning itself

Limekiln Canyon is in Mohave Co. AZ. These sightings included both March 30 & 31.

34 species. 72 - 82 degrees. Partly sunny.

Ideal weather conditions, temperature in the mid-70s, high thin overcast. Joined a docent-led “Wildflower Tour”, but I was there for the federally protected Bay Checkerspots which were having a good day. There also was a good showing of multiple wildflowers.

72-77F

Beautiful sunny day with temps in the low 70s.

With Leigh Williams. Sunny and 81 degrees. 11:35am to 1:30pm. Salt Marsh Fleabane, Sea Oxeye, Yellow Joywood and Seaside Heliotrope main nectar sources. Observing Red Admirals all over Big Pine Key still.

Just over 50F with some warmth built up in protected sunny glades.

Sunny to partly cloudy, mid 40’s to 60 degrees, light to moderate breeze. With J. Anno. First great day for butterflies, weather has been below average temps and above average rain/snow. Most sightings on the lower end of Bridle Trail #5. Brown Elfin on BT #12, E. Tiger on Forest Road #1.

First butterfly of the year.

Warm, sunny day. It was noticed on a tree branch while hiking along the northern part of the White Trail.

Commas and Cloaks everywhere🦋