February 2023 Sightings

It was 68 degrees with full sun when I spotted the Holly Azure floating down from the Holly Tree not yet in bloom. It checked out blooming camellias and then flew along the bluff with John following but it never stopped for a photo!

We walked the trail through this maritime forest and back through the woods along the tidal marsh. It was an usually warm 82 degrees.

Dedicated butterflying search was productive with 62 degrees and sunshine.

79 degrees and mostly sunny. 19 species.

75F

0900-1130, 2.5 miles, mostly birding but once it warmed up a couple butterflies were found sunning.

1000-1200, 2 miles, hiked to the reserve and back. The California Tortoiseshell was a lifer for me

76F plus an unID’d duskywing skipper

Upon removing a tarp from firewood logs this Eastern Comma was there. It didn’t waste any time and flew straight up and out of sight after I did manage two shots with a cell phone.

FOY butterfly for me. 74F & sunny.

Warm, breezy, partly cloudy, 87 degrees. Great variety out today at Celery Fields Park - particularly on the hilltop - and staggering numbers of Atala seen at Twin Lakes.

Mostly Cloudy, windy, mid-70s. Cloud cover and gusty winds at times kept sighting numbers down…plus the hike was geared more for gator sightings.

Lyside sulphur clinging to a snapdragon stem on my porch during high winds

1100-1330. 4.5 miles along Peters Creek Trail and looped back on Long Ridge Trail. Never got over 60 degrees. The few butterflies seen were puddling.

Partly Cloudy, gale-force winds, upper 60s. Strong winds made for difficult observations…only a couple of manatee present, too.

also 2 unidentified anglewings Eastern Comma/Question Mark

70F & sunny.

This spot in the park usually produces a Mourning Cloak. Instead, this Red Admiral appeared. Only the 2nd butterfly I’ve seen this year. The first was a Mourning Cloak at Turtle Bay in Redding on 9 Feb.

72F Phaon Crescent was a lifer.

I also had three pale yellow, weak flying butterflies that I could not identify. Cold and windy conditions.

(14-66) Warm and sunny. Most everything was observed nectaring at chickasaw plum. FL58

Another 10 second sighting

FOY butterflies for me. Season well advanced, even found a spring beauty wildflower in bloom!

76F plus an unID’d duskywing skipper.
Palatka Skipper (appropriately) was a lifer.

giant was small, ironically, on azalea.

80 Degrees, full sun. Supposed to be rain this afternoon and 40 degrees tomorrow morning so we took a long walk in the sunshine. Carolina Jasmine was in full bloom in the woods and Cloudless Sulphurs were in flight not stopping for photos.

Pale blue, small. Little spots

Full Sun to later 100% cloud cover. 60 degree with sunny conditions when most of the butterflies were seen at 2100 feet elevation. With Bob Gorman, Diane Broduer, and later Gary Meredith.

another lifer

1300-1415, W 5-10, sunny 85F; walked the north edge below dike; Target Cuban Crescent—YES

While taking a 20 mile hike our BSA troop saw two Monarchs at our turn around point in Cypress Point by their golf course in the shade of the trees there.

Hot, sunny, windy - the Sulphur was intermittently nectaring and then resting under an apparently favorite leaf.

68F Admiral seems early, but it’s been very warm in Florida.

68F at time of first admiral sighting. On azalea; flew off into oak/pine wood on east side of yard. Palamedes swallowtail also on azalea.

70F & overcast.

After 5 inches of rain and 80 degree days we have new early FOS dates for Henry’s Elfin of February 20! This report is over the past 5 days as sightings have been consistent except for the RARE sighting of American Snout! Difficult to photograph up in the Carolina Jasmine vines but I think the photo is definitive.

Today gave us a bright sunny 70-degree day.

80F

(9-25) Very warm and nothing in bloom.

11am-4pm, 65-74 degrees, Sunny and calm becoming mostly cloudy and breezy. Seven of the commas were feeding on sap flow on poison ivy vine.

We’ve had 5 inches of rain and 80 degree plus days for a couple of weeks.

Sunny, low 80s, no wind. 1:30 - 3:30

84 degrees, partly cloudy, windy

(21-94). Very warm. Wasn’t able to see any Henry’s Elfins or Eastern Pine Elfins, which were on our hit list. FL69.

Partly to mostly sunny, light to moderate breeze, 56-58 degrees, 1:30 to 3:30pm. First butterflies close to home, first eclosed species. Season well-advanced, red and silver maples and elms in full bloom. Saucer magnolia starting to bloom.

Partially sunny with temperatures in the low 70s.

82 degrees, sunny with light wind. Private property with numerous large flowering wild plum trees. We found only bees in the plum blooms, the butterflies were on yellow clover and briar blooms.

82 degrees, sunny. We saw our first of season Southern dogface!

Seems early at this location.

sunny, low 60’s

Sunny, low 70s. 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon

Observed two Checkered Whites this afternoon. It was bright sunshine and 76F when I encountered these first butterflies of the year (for me). The photo is poor, but I believe diagnostic for female Checkered White.