April 2022 Sightings

Our first of the season survey this year of this area in the Cascade-Siskiyou Nat’l Monument. Early for grass skippers. Our 1st last year, which was also a drought year, was 4/22. Our 1st Colombians were 4/30 last year. Common Buckeyes were already quite worn. Overall, our numbers were much higher than this time last year.

Warm, mid-70’s, six mile hike with Cynthia Dusel-Bacon and Charlie Bacon.

Photographed Acmon Blue is unusually dark, and the Bramble Green Hairstreak is quite blue-green. We also saw two little orange skippers at a distance, too far away to identify.

One spiffy Red Admiral doesn’t seem top mind resting on Poison Oak foliage.

Three (3) of the Monarchs were found at the overwintering site (at 31.47019878961936, -84.3764345954961) and the others were found some distance away from the site within the WMA.

1100-1400, 64-72F, NW 6-11MPH, Cloud Cover 12-13%

65 degrees, Partially cloudy. Azures were Holly Azures.

Lupine is a Biennal here, prescribed burns keep it healthy & mean the ‘hot spots’ on the NWR change from year to year. A local sent us to this spot.

Sunny, low 70s, mild winds. Lots of nectar source but few butterflies. Only a few fresh individuals were seen. The area had received some rain a week earlier. With Bob Gormon & Diane Broduer.

Sunny, mid 60’s

Gulf Fritillary was tiny - smaller than a Cabbage White. I got a close look.

While participating in a NABA Count (This is not the official list.) 9 participants including GA DNR Wildlife Personnel: Reagan Montalvo, Anna Yellin, and Phil Delestrez. Also Dan Sulimson, Martha Delestrez, E.D. O.D., L.D.

A good time was had by all.

1000-1730, 59-73F, Wind variable 1-8MPH, Cloud Cover 15-90%,

Mostly sunny, windy 45-62 degrees. The falcate butterfly was a female.

Surprise sightings on a chilly morning after a period of cold weather. Compton Tortoiseshell is the first I have seen since 2007.

White-M Hairstreak is a rare sighting in Shelby County. FOY Monarch.

Sunny then mostly sunny 40-66 degrees.

Sunny to mostly cloudy. 63 degrees.

Sunny, windy, high in the mid 60s.

Sunny and 51 degrees.

Spent the day walking endlessly through pine forest with yuccas, looking for evidence of you-know-what, with negative results! Regardless, a good time was had by me.

1015-1700, 60-78F, Wind variable 2-8MPH, Cloud Cover 1-13%, A beautiful day.

Both falcates were female.

Mostly sunny to mostly cloudy high of 71 degrees

We had an afternoon of sun and it got to be 61 degrees, an unexpected pleasure. At first this butterfly was flushed by a passing car, but it returned.

Sunny mid-60’s. Ringlets dominated the grassy slopes, Margined Whites in the wooded areas.

One California Tortoiseshell, worn and torn but still alive and active.

Rain in the am to mostly sunny with a high of 69 degrees.

Early afternoon temp reached 52 degrees and lifer looks at Compton Tortoiseshells happened for a brief time.

72 degrees, overcast and breezy. Per Jeffrey Glassberg’s second edition ‘A Swift Guide to Butterflies’ one of these Carolina Satyrs is the ‘Cryptic’ Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius form intricata.) Intricata has a low, slow flight and usually does not fly as erratically nor as far as Carolina Satyr. Also shown here are comparisons of the two with differences seen in the postmedian line with Intricata’s rather straight towards the costa. You can read more in ‘News of The Lepidopterists’ Society Vol 56, #2 p84, Summer 2014. Also look carefully at the Zabulon female as the male is also in the photo.

Beautiful, windy day in the Big Cypress

Mostly sunny, windy with a high of 62 degrees.

Unseasonably hot 93 degrees, only hiked a short distance.

Gulf Fritillary unusual for this location.

83, somewhat overcast.

M Strumski, 13:43-16:00, 72-76F, wind 8MPH

sunny to begin the morning, ended windy and cloudy in the afternoon - was on the water in a canoe
(saw a duskywing, but only briefly and unable to ID)

65 degrees, slightly windy, cloudy with a few moments of sprinkles on and off
(saw two yellows (probably sulphurs) and a small white one, but not close enough to ID)

1030-1630, 63-70F, Wind W-SW 9-26MPH, Cloud Cover 0-20%

Sally and Dean Jue, Dr. Ray Moranz, Roy Cohutta. A good time was had by all.

All seen while working in and around my yard. However, while looking in Nottingham Park none were seen!

First time I’ve ID’d a Becker’s White on this trail.
Also saw a small orange butterfly fly by.

70 degrees, sunny. We were shocked to find the large meadow had been sprayed with chemicals! Only tiny patches of helitrope, a few milkweed and cactus were green. We were later told they plan to replace the bahaya grass with native plants. This will certainly be challenging as there is no water source.

70 degrees, sunny & windy.

Sunny, lower 80s, increasing winds that exceeded 25 mph @ Culp Valley. Most areas visited are running late by as much as 6 weeks, others less. Some areas had no blooming nectar source. High winds at Culp Valley made it impossible for butterflies to hilltop. With Bob Gorman, Diane Broduer, & Michael Newton.

Sunny to partly cloudy and chilly around 60

Sunny, 32-59 degrees

Observations from a walk looking for early spring butterflies from about 3:20 to 4:45pm with temperatures in the low fifties, partly cloudy with a breeze. My first reported sighting of 2022 during a visit to the Northeast. The Mourning Cloaks were sunning, one on a rock and the other on the ground between tall dry grasses, and flew off skittishly at my approach.

started sunny, ended breezy and chilly

Spent all day 9am - 5pm butterflying and “odeing” throughout the forest.

(21-75) Warm and sunny. Sparkleberry was “key” for the hairstreaks.

Weather was partly sunny,temperature in the upper 50’s and fairly calm wind

These butterflies were spotted by Jeanne Church and these are her photos.

Partly sunny, windy 56-76 degrees. The 3 falcate butterflies were all females.

very windy, mid-40s most of the time

My first butterflies of the year.

Mid 50s, first sunny day after wet week and overnight frost.

Rio Grande Nature Center near river. Sunny, mid 50’s to 60’s

Laying eggs on sandhill milkweed

first-of-year Falcates (2 seen simultaneously at one point, near summit). Also first-of-year American, and Painted Ladys (one of each) at the summit, but only appearing after 2 pm for hill-topping behavior. The Azures seen were presumed spring; bright-blue in flight, not seen perching. Temp. was up to 60 F., with bright sun and a moderate wind from the southwest. Not that many nectaring-plants around, but some.

9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Weather: 65°-80°, winds 5-13 mph, 100% sun all day. Above average rainfall this year has water levels higher than usual. Nectar: thistle, fleabane, coreopsis. LCooper, SFarnsworth, CGibson, GHill, SSteele-Cabrera, EPerry.

All day (9-5) spend butterflying and odeing. Heavy overcast all day. 75 degrees

saw 2 individuals in display flight at dusk

Dorsal and ventral views of same male Southern Broken-Dash.

1100-1630, 70-80F, Wind SE-SW 7-14MPH, Cloud Cover 34-51%

Williams Road Unit 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Weather: 70°-84°, winds 5-14 mph, 100% sun all day. Nectar: thistles, fleabane, roserush. LCooper, GHill, SSteele-Cabrera.

Mostly sunny 75-80. 8am to 1pm.

Mostly sunny, light breeze, 72 degrees. First of year sighting of a Cabbage White by my daughter Addie, then 2 more in neighborhood yards later in the day.

Sunny and mild with temperatures in the low to mid-sixties and a light breeze. I searched the Preserve for butterflies from 3:05 to 4:30pm and found Mourning Cloaks actively pursuing each other and sunning back in the woods.

Mostly cloudy, peaks of sun and windy. High of 78 degrees.

Spent much of the time in and around the swamp looking at plants.

1530-1730, 80-82F, Wind S 12-19MPH, Cloud Cover 55-64%

Not all that active, with almost no nectar-flowers seen other than (poss.) native Red Maple flowers by summit; elev. 1,600+ ft. a.s.l. on Mt. Taurus. Only the 2 Cabbage were seen much lower; others at and near the summit, in afternoon sun, near 70 F. & s. breezes.
The Falcate was my 2nd-sighting of the season, and first-of-year for me in Putnam County NY. This is a hike only for those somewhat fit, or willing to make the climb, steep up and down - and extremely popular for hikers, although not so many in my mid-week visit. Also seen on the trail here, a tiger beetle with the name Cicindela limbalis, a regular site for the species.

Sunny and warm with temperatures in the low seventies. Butterflying during visit from Anchorage AK to Northeast, from 2:15 to 3:15pm. Butterflies were all very active and skittish, limiting photo opportunities.

Saw first Wild Indigo Duskywing and a couple of Cabbage Whites

Spring Azure never landed, couldn’t get a picture. With Mary Collier.

Partly sunny, breezy with some gusts in open areas, upper 70s.

First of several for the season!

Tiger Swallowtail in Elkridge; Falcate Orangetips at Columbia Gateway Business Park

Sunny with a high of 61 degrees

First Butterflies seen in our yard located in the East Mt Airy section of Philadelphia.

(16-90). Mostly sunny and temps reaching 82. Emperors were not active yet.

Seasonal riparian area along the Rio Grande. the river has water only in the summer, during irrigation season. It was dry on this visit. Dominant vegetation is coyote willow (Salix exigua), tamarisk, saltgrass, bermuda grass. Also other grasses are present, including the foodplant for the butterfly of this sighting, cane bluestem (Bothriochloa barbinodes). I did not see bluestem on this visit, but have seen it there previously. Several species of butterflies and other insects were nectaring on a single blooming tamarisk. Checkered whites were flying in the park, but were not nectaring on this particular tamarisk. Amblyscirtes nereus was marginal for range, out of habitat, and early in its flight time. I saw it very clearly and very close on the underside, many times, but did not see the upperside. I had seen it in this park before, 21 September 2008, with a long, clear, close look of upperside and underside as it nectared on Trailing Windmills (Nyctaginaceae).

Cool and cloudy, sporadic sunshine.

Lorquin’s Admiral and Rural Skipper were first of season.

Mostly sunny, 75 degrees, gusty at times.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail only seen patrolling, one photo in-flight by the summit. 2 Hairstreak species seen on same branch at times, of a small cedar at the summit. The 2 Lady species were seen in one place together, & in another section of trail, separately. All Falcate Orangetips noticed were males, patrolling on various sections of sunny trails. Temp. into the 60+ F. range, with an increasing w. to s-w. wind. Many more nectar flowers coming out, as compared with my previous visit to the location. Also many hikers on this popular route.

The first Juniper Hairstreak I’ve seen in the 36 years I’ve lived in Shelby County.

Butterflying from 10am to 12:10pm with bright breezy weather, and temperatures starting at 60° and rising gradually to about 64°. Bumblebees, honeybees, and dragonflies were active when I first arrived but it was some thirty or forty minutes before the first Cabbage Whites were visible. There were lots of pollen sources in the Native Meadow so I had hoped for more early spring butterfly diversity, but it was a pleasure to see the Cabbage Whites bobbing, scudding, and chasing each other along the slope. We return to Alaska tomorrow so this was probably the last opportunity for butterflying while visiting the Northeast.

Sunny, breezy, upper 60s. Extremely early American Snout for this area, although would not be the earliest ever for the state of PA. Pains me to say I could not get a photo of it for hard evidence. There was an aggressive male Mourning Cloak that was circling and bombarding me, and also seemed to not want the Snout to land long enough for a photo. He promptly chased it out of view over some spicebush.

10:00 am to 12:15 pm. With Della Wells. Clear, sunny with light breeze; air temperature 57-60 F.

Sunny, 49-59 degrees

Went hiking around 1 pm with temperature around 45 degrees and sunny, First Eastern Tiger Swallowtail of the year.

Clouded Sulphur, Monarch, and Juvenal’s were all first sightings this year. Juvenal’s were all in the wood’s edge paths and adjacent cornfield edge. The monarch was a fly-by barely stopping.

Sightings for the past week.

Sunny, 72 degrees, light winds. Extremely dry. Activity on the hilltop nearly non-existent today despite ideal weather conditions. Buckwheat not ready.

Easter Sunday. Most were on or around butterfly sage, pickerelweed and fire bush.

(9-41) Late afternoon

Sunny 70 degrees. Remarkable in my backyard today was a Variegated Fritillary, well north of its usual range. Northern White Skipper is an occasional visitor.

0900-1245, 5 miles, hiked the main red loop trail.

(17-88). Not much to be found inside the forest. Most were seen, roadside.

The Southern Oak Hairstreak only flies here for a few weeks a year around this time so it is always a fairly rare sighting. Fortunately, 7 individuals were seen where they can usually be found, both on host plants and nearby flowers.
10am-115pm, 74-85 degrees, sunny, light wind

My first Alaska butterfly sighting of 2022, found in the backyard this evening after work at 6pm with the temperature at 46°. I saw my first Milbert’s Tortoiseshell of 2021 on April 16th, also sunning itself in the backyard. This butterfly became nervous as I took photos, and fluttered in low circles before flying across the creek behind the yard to land in a sunny spot on the opposite bank. It‘s always incredible to see these early-emerging butterflies, especially with half the yard still buried in snow.

One (of the two) West Virginia Whites photographed had a tear in the left hindwing.

1200-1700, 51-61F, Wind NW 6-13MPH, Cloud Cover 3-6%

With James Adams, Ph.D, Professor of Biology, Dalton State College

Sunny, 44-57 degrees

Weather was sunny, 60°, moderately windy

(17-49). Not much flying, but still a great time. Summer Azure now recognized as the only Florida azure.

11-12:55, sunny, the Painted Lady was nectaring on Dandelions

Seen actively nectoring on Purple Deadnettle in windy 57-degree temperature and full sun.

Sunny - 57 degrees. The mountains were covered in snow, so little activity. It made it a fun challenge to be butterflying

(18-74). A short, two-hour, late morning look-see.

Partly sunny in the low 60s.

Wonderful weather. Possible Harvester sighting.

Very windy the past few days with butterflies nectaring & flying low & difficult getting an image in focus. Temperature 78, Sunny.

Good day for butterflying with temperatures between 55 -65 for the 3 hours I was out. Little wind. Started cloudy and gradually the sun came out. This is only the 2nd Henry’s Elfin that I have seen at the forest

This has been an exceptional year for Harvesters so far at this location. All the Monarchs seen were very worn, indicating they’ve probably migrated from very far away.

Sunny at 70 degrees

80 degrees, full sun, windy.

With Della Wells. 10:15 am - 1:15 pm; clear, cloudless skies with moderate winds; 58-65F.

Sunny, breezy, 70 degrees. Surprised to see a very early Monarch for this area!

A good variety of spring butterflies. The Azures were sunning themselves with wings spread. Not something I’ve seen very often.

11:30-1:10, sunny, very windy
The Clouded Sulphur was in a field near the beginning of the trail.

Butterfly walk for HCCP by Chris Gray. There were 9 attendees. This was the first warm day after roughly 2 weeks of cool, even rainy, weather, with 1 warm day during that time. Also 6 Pipevine Swallowtails caterpillars.

In the park 8:45-3:00
Beautiful & windy!
w/ S.Wallenstein

Weather was mostly sunny, 63-84°, moderately windy with gusts up to 14mph

We went to several locations

R. Spink, D. Dunlap, J. Reinoehl

Sunny and 79 degrees. The first Cabbage White of the season.

Sunny and 83.

Warm and sunny. 82.

Early spring butterflying from 1:54 to 4:40pm, with still and mostly cloudy skies at 49° at the start of the session and sunnier conditions at 53° as I finished. I stayed longer than planned as the conditions became brighter and warmer, and finally had some Milbert’s Tortoiseshell activity in the last forty-five minutes. The butterflies were skittish and didn’t allow for close approach. I plan to visit this bog near our house on a regular basis this season to see what butterflies I can find. Last summer I had Dorcas Coppers here plus a gazillion mosquitos.

75 degrees & sunny. This is the earliest date on which I’ve counted ten species, in six years of record keeping. I usually don’t hit that mark until mid-May.

Watched a worn female Monarch visit all the common milkweed plants in my yard (they’re up 6-8 inches), laying an egg on each one. First Monarch of the year for me!

well above average temperature - mid 80’s

5 Whites not sure if Cabbage or WV, flight like WV

2 unIDed Azures

Sunny, 77 degrees, very windy. Conditions remain quite dry. Areas visited have regressed since last visit a few weeks ago. One No ID Duskywing.

Sunny at 4:30pm with a light breeze and temperature at 54°. Two Tortoiseshells were patrolling up and down the block, fluttering through the front yard and on to neighbors’ properties.

Observed during shore-based beluga monitoring and photo identification session from 11:20am to 2:20pm with bright sun, clear skies, and a light breeze; temperatures starting at 49° and rising to 54°. The Milbert’s Tortoiseshell was present throughout the session, sunning itself on rocks along the shore and occasionally fluttering up and along the pullout. It was skittish and usually landed in spots among the rocks close to the water that were difficult to approach. When it landed nearby I crawled down onto the rocks to get some photos. We had sightings of ten or eleven distant belugas in two small groups during the session as well.

Sunny, light breeze, upper 60s. I included a photo of a Cabbage White with some of the yellowest underwings I’ve seen in a while.

Mostly sunny — 43 degrees at start; 50 at the end.

Stormy and 72.

Sunny 74 degrees

4:30pm - 6pm, 80 degrees, light breeze

1pm - 3:30pm 85-90 mostly sunny no wind, with Don Fraser

9am-12pm, 80-85 degrees, partly cloudy, 10 mph wind
with Dan Fraser

After recent rain, beautiful weather has brought out a profusion of flowers and butterflies.

Persius Duskywing was very good at staying out of sight, I was lucky to get a single photo.

Only had my iPhone with me to take pictures, so apologies for the poorer quality.

seen while hiking around spring and loop trail

Today was partly sunny, windy, 55 degrees, and I walked the trails from 11:50AM-1:10PM.

0800-1030, 3 mile loop trail through excellent wiregrass, pine and turkey oak sandhill habitat. However few nectar sources currently.

Very sunny 39-62 degrees

Today I walked along the Talbott Trail from 11:55AM-1:15PM. The trail is bordered by industrial sites on one side and many Sage bushes on the other side, leading to the banks of the Colorado River. Many of the trees and shrubs along the river side are ready to bloom or leaf out, and I will be interested to see what nectar sources are there.
Cloudy, 61 degrees, elevation 6000+ feet

(19-401). Sunny skies, temp near 80.

78 degrees, windy. Observed while gardening.

Afterwork walk en route to the nearby park for butterflying, sunny and 54° with a light breeze at 5:50pm. Tortoiseshells were spotted sunning in the front yards of homes. I mostly resisted the impulse to trespass and try for photos.

Afterwork butterflying on a beautiful sunny evening at 54° and with a light breeze, from about 6:10 to 7pm. I focused on a power line right-of-way in the northeast corner of the park that looked promising. A Mourning Cloak basking on the ground among tall dried grass took flight at my approach. I stirred up a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell too and managed a few photos. As it flew along the right-of-way a second Tortoiseshell flew up from the ground in pursuit and they spiraled upward. It seemed that the Morning Cloak lifted off the ground then as well to chase off the Tortoiseshells, but I quickly lost track of them.

Sunny 42-78 degrees with light winds.

I walked along this trail from 10:35-11:50AM and saw a new butterfly species.
Partly sunny, 64-71 degrees

41 degrees and sunny! Thanks to Ronda and Jack for coming along and guiding me today.

This was my second trip to the northernmost part of the state this season in yet another failed search for Silvery Blue. The long drive from SW GA is made longer by the Atlanta area traffic. The mountains are always a delight regardless. Black Rock Mountain SP is the highest state park in Georgia and is along the Eastern Continental Divide. Elevation ranges from 3000 - 3,640 feet.

1100-1600, 60-68F, Wind variable 3-8MPH, Cloud Cover 4-35%

Sunny at 91

Sun in the am then a rainy afternoon. 48-72 degrees.

(14-78) Two-hour walk up the Pinellas Trail. One mile under partly sunny skies.

Sunny, low 50’s
2 to 3 p.m.

I walked this trail from 10:35-11:50AM. On the way back to my car, I saw the Pale Crescent basking on the path, a new butterfly species for me.
Partly sunny, 61 degrees, elevation about 5450 feet

Weather was sunny and 60°.

The Monarch was seen in the arboretum garden. It flew into the garden of dead vegetation and landed on the soil.

Seen by Holly Hooper-Biological Research Director at the Kalamazoo Nature Center

EGGS are visible on the abdomen in ALL 3 VIEWS of the (same) Juvenal’s Duskywing. They probably are near the end of their single flight for the season here.

Also included are 3 views of the same Zabulon Skipper.

I saw several other Duskywings which could have been either Juvenal’s or Horace’s.

This was day #2 of 3 of my mini camping tour of Georgia which included Rabun, Bartow and Jones Counties.

1200-1600, 72-79F, Wind S 6-12MPH, Cloud Cover 44-55%

Rain in am, turning mostly cloudy 53-72 degrees

Pleasantly warm, mid-60’s. Long Ridge is in the fog belt, which might explain why no California Sisters or Lorquin’s Admirals were seen here today.

Milkmaid Flowers were mostly gone, so the Margined Whites were using the profusion of violets for nectar.

Afterwork butterflying in the northeast corner of the park along the power line and utility access road from 5:45 to 7:15pm, on a sunny, breezy evening at 53°.

81 degrees, windy, sunny. There were numerous Monarch caterpillars on Pinewoods Milkweed.

Abundant Sparkleberry in full bloom! 79 degrees, sunny, windy. Hardly any pollinators flying.