October 2023 Sightings

Checked areas from Molino Basin up to Palisades VC. Very dry conditions everywhere.

Rain for almost a week and cloudy gray conditions with temps in the 60’s. Most of the nectar is gone and meadow was again mowed. Today, was mid 70’s and sunny though I didn’t go until later in the afternoon.

Mostly sunny, light breeze, 80 degrees. Surprise find of a single American Copper…only one of the entire season! This gives hope that the local colony may have actually survived the poor weather and mowing earlier in the season. Sleepy Orange numbers still high…

This walk was limited to the restored stream habitat at Merriweather Drive and Divided Sky Lane, west edge of the park. One of my photos catches an Ocola Skipper in flight.

Sunny, light breeze, warm, mid-80s. Surprise sighting of a late Gray Hairstreak, Eastern Tiger, and a Hackberry Emperor.

sunny, almost 80 F, vast decline in diversity due to last week;s torrential rains, would normally be about 3 - 5x as many species

Temp 85, sunny with little wind, Nectar is getting sparse, some lantana, Tall Verbena, zinnias, marigolds and White Snakeroot. Was totally surprised to find 2 fresh looking Ocola’s, which are the first Ocola’s documented for this county park. Also, FOY here for me today was a mint fresh Fiery.

A day out scouting with Linda Cooper for her upcoming Skipper Field Trip. 9:30a-5:15p We were trying to find the best spots and we found some good ones with lots of fall wildflowers starting up. 81-84 degress with winds variable at 12-23mph. Mostly cloudy with intermittent showers, some sun. Major nectar was Liatris, Carphephorus, Spanish Needles, Morning Glory, Spermacoce, and Climbing Hempweed. A good time was had by all.

Sunny, calm, mid-80s. Late season Dun Skipper. Common Buckeye fall form “rosa” spotted, with some of the brightest pink-colored ventral HWs I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately it wouldn’t let me get a decent side view…

I was driving along the road to Grand Mesa when I pulled off the road for the umpteenth time to take a photo of the beautiful Fall foliage. There was a patch of asters in a sunny spot, where I saw two butterflies.

Sunny, 2PM, elevation about 10,000 feet, 44 degrees.

The Ocola Skipper was a nice surprise. Only seen them once up here about five or six years ago in CT.

sunny, upper 70s, a bit better vs. yesterday, this area had a bit less rain but still plenty of it.

FOY Fiery here more than 8 weeks later than 2022. Mid 70’s, cloudy and winds 5-8 MPH. 3 fresh Monarchs, perhaps from the 18 caterpillars here a few weeks ago. On one of them the wing didn’t fully expand so he won’t be migrating very far.

Most of the butterflies were on asters.
Sunny, 64 degrees, 1pm-2:45pm.

Looking around wildflower garden at the main building for about an hour. Temperature about 75 F as warm spell continues; sunny, partly cloudy.

Sunny mid-40s - 9600ft
Surprised to see the butterfly as it snowed Monday & Tuesday. It’s melted except at the higher elevations.

1st trip of Skipper Weekend. 9:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Weather: 79°-84°, winds 3-11, mostly sunny till 3 p.m. then cloudy. Nectar: rayless sunflower, agalinus, FL Elephant’s Foot, spermacoce, liatris, pickerelweed, caesarweed, carphephorus, Eryngium yuccifolium. LCooper, SFarnsworth, RGilson, PGotter, RSanchez, DSmith, CTalkington.

Partly sunny breezy n 59degrees mid-afternoon

Temp of 57 with sunshine and breeze when seeing the Dainty Sulphur

Surprised the only butterfly seen.

2nd day of skipper weekend. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Weather: 70°-78°, winds 6-12, sun a.m. 25%, p.m. 10%; first cold front of season. Nectar: morning glory, rayless sunflower, liatris, carphephorus, balduina, eryngium, desmodium, hempvine, spermacoce, FL elephant’s foot. LCooper. SFarnsworth, RGilson, JKern, EPerry, RSanchez, DSmith, CTalkington.

Sunny, breezy, 65 degrees, 11:40-1:20pm.

65, sunny and breezy, saw a skipper, likely a Fiery due to how orange it was, but unable to get a picture

With Don Gibson 9 - 1
Pleasant 70’s
The Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak with its cleanly incised wings (perhaps from an anole) is evidence that the hairstreak-fake-antennae strategy is effective. Hey, it’s still alive!

Sad to see butterfly season wrapping up. Mid 60’s, partly sunny with winds about 6 MPH. 3 Black Swallowtail caterpillars that are alive but haven’t really been eating their host plant unless the sun is on them.

sunny 71 degrees 2 pm

close by fly-by while I was enroute to my public library

Few nectar sources seen nearby.

Mid 60’s, sunny with winds 5 MPH. I haven’t seen a Common Buckeye since late August or Silver-spotted Skipper for the past 3 weeks but both here today.

Sunny, light breeze, mid-60s. Several of the Common Buckeye were once again the fall form “rosa,” with bright pink highlights and dark dorsal colors.

A female Monarch visited the garden today. Enjoyed getting nectar from zinnias and sunflowers before flying south.

First thing in the morning Sunflowers are the prime source for nectar, later Verbena bonariensis and Lantana

Visiting the Tiajana River Butterfly Garden, Kate Sessions Park and a couple of general stops during the day.

Sunny, breezy, mid-60s. Followed a Pieridae that was bright yellow in color with black margins for over 10 minutes waiting for it to land. I thought it might be the elusive Little Yellow I have yet to find in this location, however turns out it was just a solid yellow female Sleepy Orange.

APAFR is in both Polk and Highlands Cos. Fall survey. 9:15 a.m.-4 p.m. Weather: 73°-83°, winds 10-18 mph, mostly cloudy a.m. & mostly sunny p.m. Nectar: liatris, carphephorus, pickerelweed, Spanish needles, spermacoce, elephant’s foot, rayless sunflower. Four teams - LCooper, SFarnsworth, CGibson, MHoffman, TPalmer, NPrine.

34.708196, -112.159214 Mid Sep to mid-Oct, maybe earlier and later, they seem to be easy to find in this area, and north along power lines. I have seen them only on pink thistles. There were four individuals on two thistles at today’s location.

Reporting for Oct 1-15.

We’ve had snow here, and overnight temps are in the mid 30’s, but the temps warm to the mid 60’s or higher during the day. My asters and zinnias are still going strong.

Sunny, high 60s, 2:30-3:40pm.

Sunny, temp 60s, elevation ~6700 ft
Comma was seen at the start of the Mt Timp. trail soon after crossing bridge.

No longer open to the public but with a conservation easement and is part of the Bull Creek NABA butterfly count. First time surveyed in the fall. Concentrated mostly on natural areas with brief visit to ruderal area. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Weather:68°-82°, winds 5-8 mph, partly cloudy in a.m. and mostly cloudy in p.m. Nectar: liatris, carphephorus, pickerelweed, firebush, plumbago, Spanish needles. SClendenin, LCooper, SFarnsworth, NPrine.

Sleepy Orange was pristine and only briefly stopping at Lantana, then heading north.

Sunny, high 60’s with a cloudless bright blue October sky, 11:20-1:15. Most of the butterflies were nectaring on asters.

Temp in high 60’s F; sunny and partly cloudy. Most of the activity was at the construction staging site south of the lake. I found the Ocola and Sachem together at a point along the lake’s east side.

Late morning, mid 60’s, very dry. Chamisa, desert marigold, apache plume, and asters blooming.

All three butterflies were on the asters around noontime, and the Milbert’s joined them an hour later.

Sunny, warm, light breeze. Midmorning short one hour walking and stationary.

I thought I was going to miss this species in my yard this year but fortunately one showed up!

Partly sunny, breezy, mid 60’s, 12:20-1:50

Seen in the park and along the river going east south of the dike.

12:30pm - 3:20pm, 81 degrees, partly cloudy, 5 mph winds. Nectar plants included Goldenrod, Hairy White Old Field Aster, and Dog Fennel. We covered part of the woodland area and spent most of the time in the Grassland trails, walking 1.66 miles. Highlight of the walk was a ‘Seminole’ Texan Crescent. LWilliams and AGrimm.

Unseasonably warm weather…Mostly sunny, light breeze, low 70s. Good variety despite several cool, wet days and cold nights. Sleepy Orange were mostly tattered and worn, but still present in decent numbers this late in the season.

Brief visit while passing through. Observed some asters in and around the parking area.

Incidental sightings while visiting the area.

Mid morning, sunny, high 40s—50s

Temp in high 70’s F. Sunny.

We just had two nights of frost (35 F & 33 F). Today was smoky from a controlled burn and hazily sunny. Butterflies are still showing up midday. Temp in 60’s when I was photographing butterflies in my yard. It seemed 2 of the West Coast Ladies were fresh.Yesterday, the ladies in the yard were 2 Painted Ladies.

Large plantings of Lantana attracting a few late season skippers.

Mostly cloudy and high 70’s while here but found one Sachem on Lantana.

45 minute visit, temps up to 80F (!)

Last licks for local leps before temps nosedive tomorrow

Temp was in high 70’s F.

West Coast Lady enjoying the native rabbit brush.

Steelbridge Road, Plum Orchard Cemetery Road, Wesley Road and Old River Road. The highlight was Southern Dogface in Fall Colors. Missed the Georgia Satyrs today.

9:30am - 5:30pm. Mostly sunny, 81 degrees. We explored Bee Head Rd to St. Nicholas Rd to the group camp restroom, then back to Power line Dr, drove west for 3/4 mile and turned around, then Power line Dr. east to Fish Pond Rd. Nectar plants include Carphephorus sp., Pickerelweed, Glade Lobelia, Brittle False Pimpernel, White Crownbeard, Liatris sp., Marsh Tickseed and Purple Thistle. Leigh Williams and AGrimm.