January 2020 Sightings

(18-108). No leafwings. (FL -18)

(7-20) Barred Yellow was the first lep of the year. Off and running… FL-7

Sunny, mild winds, mid 60s. Two Monarch caterpillars
.

(12-52). First visit. We wish we could have had more time. The preserve offered lots of iguanas to step around… (FL-25)

12noon-130pm, 80 degrees

(9-21) Pinkish legs show well on Statira. My first January record of the species in Pinellas. (FL-29).

Mostly sunny, warm. All seen during CBC for Key West, from 7:15am to 10:45am. With Leigh Williams. Nectar plants include Bidens alba, Sleepy morning, Scorpion-tail, Sea Rocket, Sea Lavender, Bay Cedar, Snow Squarestem.

1030am-130pm, 78 degrees

Hazy skies, 64 degrees with light winds.

Sunny and 72 degrees. We still have not have a freeze this year.

Sunny and 77 degrees. 30 species in a casual couple of hours. Not bad for mid-winter!

Atalas were seen at rest mainly in a sea hibiscus tree, Thespesia populnea. This could be the farthest north documentation to date. Due to inclusion of coontie plants in county, state, and federal landscaping projects, these butterflies are steadily moving up the east coast of Florida, especially along the barrier islands. Image and observation by a friend, Pam Higginbotham.

(16-164) Lots of sunshine. (FL-37).

130pm-4pm, 70 degrees

Two locations within the refuge

(16-87) Sunny afternoon. Lots of bidens in bloom. (FL-42).

Short, 30 minute walk with S.Wallenstein, R.Warner, & E.Perry from 3:30-4:00

With S.Wallenstein, R. Warner, & E. Perry. We had a riot!

A windy but beautiful day in the field with S.Wallenstein, R.Warner, & E. Perry

Partly cloudy with intermittent light showers. Two hours in the field.

2pm - 4pm, 80 degrees

Sunny, 65 degrees.

With Leigh Williams and Amy Grimm.

With Leigh Williams and Amy Grimm. Unable to get a photograph of the Miami Blue, but was clearly seen by all three of us.

Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy, 83 degrees, 8mph wind

Start weather: Cloudy, 68 degrees, 8mph
End weather: Partly cloudy, 77 degrees, 4mph

1130am-130pm, 80 degrees

Little Yellow count exceptional for South Pinellas. Statira Sulphers a pleasant surprise.

Start weather: Sunny, 69 degrees, calm
End weather: Sunny, 74 degrees, calm

Our first ‘hard freeze’ is forecast in a week. It was 80 degrees at Harris Neck & very dry so butterflies are having a hard time finding scarce blooms to survive. The Red Admiral did escape the lizard. Note difference in 2 Ceraunus Blues.

Overcast/sun breezy 70-80

Many Thanks to all the wonderful people I met on the Butterfly Walk (the guy from New Yuuark)
Thanks for the Lifers-And I didn’t get the Chiggers chasing the Common Mestra !

Only 58 degree high today but we saw a Butterfly!

The first Red Admiral to visit my butterfly garden. Enjoyed my lantana, then porterweed and left!

1130 pm - 130 pm, 75 degrees

My yard. It was starting to cool down today in Florida with temps getting into the 60s, but by 2pm butterflies started to fly and I was pleased to see 3 red admirals in my own yard and a few more while walking around the neighborhood. One of my favorite observations was this Polydamas Swallowtail which showed near-perfect hearts a good portion of the gold rim. Temps are expected to drop into the 30s and 40s the next couple nights.

Hiked 6 miles on a gloomy, cloud covered day
7:30-12:30

57F
first butterflies of the year!

Sunny, low 70s.

Nice sunny day, pleasantly warm. The California Tortoiseshell was definitely a leftover from last year, tattered and worn.

There was one red admiral one day, then two the next week, but none since. That was the first and so far, last time I have seen those. So excited, but they haven’t come back — yet.

(16-116) Clear skies, temps in the mid 60s. Great number of admirals.

1-3 pm, 69 degrees

Sunny, around 73 degrees.

Walking trail at the hotel. Relatively cool & overcast.

(11-18) Sunny, low 60s. Hog plum just starting to bloom. FL (48)

(11-34) Mostly cloudy conditions.

(14-43) Sunny morning, Leps found along the nature trail and the grove.

Short visit, 3-4pm

Butterfly garden, nature trail and grove area. Partly sunny, 74 degrees, breezy. With Leigh Williams 2:20pm to 4:15pm.

(21-164) Partly sunny skies. FL (61)

No surprises, but things are picking up. Lots of Mourning Cloaks basking in the sunny open areas.

Yard butterflies.