December 2020 Sightings

210pm-350pm, 64-66 degrees, sunny, calm

Sunny, 64 degrees. Only butterfly seen; a Red Admiral landed on the trailside duff to bask a bit. Made my day!

Yard butterflies. It warmed up to about 70 today and I saw a few butterflies flying. A fun discovery was a Monk Skipper caterpillar in a rolled tent on my areca palm, one of their many known palm hostplants. You may not realize it, but palms are grasses! Monocots anyway; and Monk Skippers are grass skippers!

We were targeting Nelson’s and Henslow Sparrows and Sedge Wren which were considering more difficult than the Common Buckeye’s. It was 65 degrees and somewhat overcast. We’ve had our first 2 nights below 32 and there is very little flying now.

only 2d yard record for these hairstreaks

We do not see many insects in our neighborhood because of all the spraying, treatments, etc. We also have had a light freeze.

But today I saw a single beat-up individual on our freshly planted pansies.

70F
Pipevine was a late sighting for me.

1210pm-230pm, 69-67 degrees, partly sunny, windy

Recent sightings. Cold overnight temps have negatively affected overall activity.

Cool temperature, high 69. Sunny.

64 degrees, sunny and somewhat windy.

1050am-135pm, 69-71 degrees, sunny, calm

Outside most of the day, high 67, sunny.

13:11 - 15:46 = 2 hrs. 35 min.
Clear, Full Sun, 21C, Wind SW 5MPH gusting to 7MPH.
In other words, a halcyon day.
We have had one light freeze and one can see the effect on the plants.

Habitat: Field planted with blooming Field Mustard leading down to wooded swamp.

Rattlebox was all but gone, but MANY adult Ornate Bella Moths present near the dead/dying Rattlebox plants.

I never thought I would see a Zebra Heliconian here in December. Both individuals kept flying into the swamp where I could not follow with my camera.

Start: 13:35PM End 15:30PM, 1 hr. 55 min.
Clear. 19-21C. Wind S-SW 5MPH, gusting to 7MPH

Never imagined saying this in DECEMBER in southwest Georgia:

“The first butterfly I saw was a Zebra Heliconian.”
“The second butterfly I saw was a Zebra Heliconian which LANDED on me.”
“I photographed the 3rd butterfly which was a Zebra Heliconian.”
“I was in a field with more Queen butterflies than I could count.”
“I photographed a Monarch butterfly.”

(This has been a strange year.)

The Zebra Heliconian(s) were next to the cypress swamp and kept flying for the most part. Nothing seemed to be blooming in that area.

The remainder of the butterflies were in a large field with planted field mustard which was blooming.

13:12 - 15:20 = 2 hours, 8 minutes.
20-22C, Partly Cloudy, Wind S-SW 10-11MPH, gusting to 16MPH.
No obvious nectar sources or blooms, but I hoped to see a few more individuals. No chance at photos as these 2 individuals were flying by fast. Spent most of the time looking for Orthoptera which was more productive.

sun and clouds, breezy, temp. ca 58 F, meandering over grass and occasionally briefly stopping on dandelions; could not definitively confirm ID of orange sulphur vs clouded sulphur.

With two winter storms forecast during the coming week, this will certainly be the last butterfly of 2020.

1150am-3pm, 71-69 degrees, cloudy, calm

Sunny, warm, low 70s.

With the Jack-In-The-Bush (Chromolaena odorata) blooming, I expected to see dozens of Ruddy Daggerwings. However, as I entered the park, sunny skies gave way to clouds with the arrival of a cold front. Still a good, short outing, as I saw my first Malachite in almost 3 years.
Time there: 2:15-3:15

With John and Jane Lampkin, Veronica Battles. 1110am-3pm, 62-73 degrees, sunny, calm

Sunny, 71 degrees.

10:45 to 1:30, mostly sunny, ~80 degrees, light wind ~10mph

Warming temps and sunny skies this morning fueled a few butterflies to fly in the yard before skies grew gray about 2 pm with an approaching front. This is the third ever yard-Mangrove Skipper that I have documented (two of those now in the last month). It was very large; I believe it to be a big female.

1 pm to 3pm, mostly sunny to sunny, wind 5-10mph. temp 75-80

A warming day brought out some yard butterflies. Christmas eve should be the same before the front arrives and we get blasted with cold from the north!

It was 75 degrees with full sun after a week of cooler temperatures.

Chickasawhatchee WMA, Swamp of Toa

Probably my last butterflies of 2020.

Halcyon Day:
19-21C, Wind SE @ 9MPH gusting to 15.
Full sun to partly cloudy.
14:07 to 15:20 = 1hr:13min

Habitat:
Field planted in mustard which still had blooms.
Upland area next to wooded swamps.

Notes:
We have had a few mild frosts and at least one mild freeze.
Compare to recent NABA reports of 11 Dec & 25 Nov at same location. Diversity/numbers decreased.

Queen: Two (2) mated pairs (2 photos of mated pair, 4 photos total)
Cloudless Sulphur was taking minerals on dirt road.
Monarch (2 photos) was fresh and was checking out Queen butterflies in search of a mate?
Monarch would not allow close approach-very skittish.
American Lady butterflies were very skittish (2 photos)

63 degrees ahead of a strong winter storm already quite windy. Zebra Heliconia was a nice surprise while picking oranges.

Noon to 2:30pm, ~15mph wind, sunny to partly cloudy

12pm to 2pm, light breeze partly cloudy, low 70s

Warming afternoon brought out four butterflies in the yard. “Sun makes them run.”

Cultivated area planted with field mustard.
31.470174, -84.376487
Full sun. 16-18C.
Wind westerly 3 MPH gusting to 5.
We have had several light frosts, and recently a nightly low of -3.8C/25F.
13:22 - 14:50 = 1 hour, 28 minutes.
Mated pair of Queen butterflies perched up in a tree next to mustard field. (photo).
Many Queen butterflies remain, but in much reduced numbers from previous recent visits. Some Queen looked worn, and some looked fresh.

Upper 70s, Sunny, wind 10-15mph, 10:30 - 2:30

Full sun, 17-19C.
Wind easterly at 7MPH gusting to 10.
13:13 - 14:35 = 1hr:22min
Large field planted with field mustard next to a swamp.

The Queen butterfly flew by and kept going-no photo.
Photos of 2 different Buckeye: 1 fresh and 1 very worn individual.
2 photos of identical American Lady.

68-70F, Mostly Cloudy. Wind SE @9MPH gusting to 19.
12:52-14:00 = 1hr:08min.
Mustard field next to swamps.
Queen Butterflies still common here.
Another mated pair observed and photographed.
Cabbage White present briefly upon my arrival, but did not stay for a photo.
Small list, but big enjoyment watching the Queen butterflies.

Temps. Low 70s
Wind SE at 10 - 15 mph
Mostly sunny
Sightings made with most of them nectaring on Spanish Needles and Lantana.

Mostly sunny, 62 degrees. Also, 5 Monarch caterpillars.