April 2023 Sightings

Combined report for Mar 30 thru Apr 01.

1:00 - 1:50 PM. Observations were made in a 100-foot section of the creek.

Unofficial name for habitat enclosed by those roads and Little Patuxent River in Columbia Town Center / Merriweather District neighborhood. IMG 6739 and 6740 show same individual (on dandelion and in grass). Also saw an anglewing, but too fast to tell if Eastern Comma or Question Mark.

Sunny, light breeze, 70 degrees. Yard butterfly…but first Cabbage White of the season.

Copper Trailhead (Foothills). Sunny, 40’s to 50’s, mid morning.

Windy but 70F.

sunny, light breeze

Very cool and occasionally gusty; temps never really got much over 55F. Only the dark-bodied baskers seemed to be out.

sunny, light breeze

72f

Mid morning, 40’s to 50’s, sunny. Also saw a few litocala moths.

First Eastern Comma of the year at Fontenelle Forest. It was 70 degrees and sunny.

Observations made between 11 AM - 3 PM on the trails throughout the property. Sunny with a high of 76.

(26-90) Sunny. Roadsides. w/ J & I Gibbons. (FL101)

75F Phaon Crescent on Daisy Fleabane.

Sightings for April 2-4. Weather was mostly sunny and warm but winds exceeded 30 mph each day. The area had just received 4 inches of rain a few days prior to my visit.

Only male Falcate Orangetips were seen, in a stretch of trail from summit onward to the north a bit, possibly all just emerged, with a day’s high temp. at about 70F. and much bright sun. The azures were seen closely in flight, and by a 2nd observer who also saw the Painted Lady (V. cardui) as well as spotting the first Falcate seen, at the summit of this small mountain, however the forms of the 2 azures were not clear. Both of the 2 Ladys landed near the very peak of the hill and were quite active at times as were almost all other species excepting the Eastern Commas basking in slightly-shadier areas. Wildflowers have begun to come up offering some nectar, and there are also such flowers as dandelions etc. scattered thru the areas covered. Many other insects also were coming out to fly, crawl, etc. The date is not an early one for the orangetips here; they have been recorded a few times at the very end of March, in some prior years.

Found this Atala butterfly on our car windshield. Transported it to shrub nearby before it flew away.

78 degrees, full sun, late afternoon after heavy overcast skies most of the day. Our 50 foot American Holly Tree is in full bloom and listening to the sound of bees is amazing! We saw butterflies in it but they were too high and in the glaring sun so didn’t try to photograph them. We also have blooming thistle and helitrope. American Snout is a Yard Lifer!

80F

also saw one dark swallowtail but it flew too fast for an ID

It was cloudy all morning and then the sun came out around noon. At 1 p.m. it was around 65 degrees. Most of the butterflies were seen by trees that were weeping sap. Usually don’t see this many butterflies this time of year.

All of the Eastern Commas and Mourning Cloak were seen in the woods, where there was a still air and seemingly warmer

17 Southern Oak Hairstreaks was fantabulous for me, mostly nectaring on blackberry. 89 degrees, light breeze, mostly sunny.

Tiger swallowtail, first I’ve seen this year, was flying around flowering trees but not seen settling on them. Had to photograph it in flight and crop results heavily. Temp about 80 F. (Cooler the next day.) In addition to Cabbage Whites, one azure was flying — no chance for close look or photo.

all butterflies on this very warm afternoon (to near 80) were at or within 50 feet of the summit area. The Red Admirals were likely newly-arrived migrants. More Falcate Orangetips came out in the warm sun, all seen were males. A few of the host-plants for the Orangetips were seen in bud. Mourning Cloaks could be seen basking or frolicking in groups of three, four or even more at times in the afternoon hours at this location. The one Painted Lady was perhaps lingering, or may have been a new individual from the last visit to same location. No extensive searching was done on this visit here, and all sightings were in warm sun.

Yard butters. I think this is only the second soldier I can recall from my yard in a 20-year period.

84F Plus 1 unid’d grass skipper.

Also found 3 Common Green Darners.

Let the season begin!

Long cold, snowy Winter/Spring.
13+ inches of snow Tues/Wed morning.
45 degrees, sunny today (still 5+ inches of snow on the ground)
1st butterfly of the season!!! (And hoping the start of Spring here in Utah.)

Sunny and 64.

9:45 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Weather: 75°-89°, winds 3-6 mph, sun all day. Nectar: thistles, fleabane, spermacoce, blackberries. Area continues very dry. LCooper, SFarnsworth, EPerry, NPrine, RSpink, RWelsh, AWhitlock

A mixture of open grassy peaks, and a descent into redwood forest. I saw one flyby that appeared like a fritillary sp. but I am not 100% certain. Most sightings were in the sunny spots amidst the closed canopy forest.

2:30 PM.

Mostly Sunny, 82 degrees, breezy wind conditions. Amazing amounts of wildflowers and other nectar source available. However, only a few individual butterflies seen. The season appears to be running 4 to 6 weeks late due to unseasonably cold weather & increased rains in Southern California this year. With Diane Broduer & Bob Gorman.

Sunny, 82 degrees.

Orangetips, Large Marbles, Margined Whites, and even some Ringlets in Wildcat Canyon. Then the sun disappeared and so did the butterflies.

Suburban foothills. Early afternoon. Low 60’s, partly cloudy

Sunny and 69.

Sunny and 70.

77F
Plus one unid’d duskywing skipper.

Sunny and 65.

First W. Pygmy-Blues I’ve seen in the park since before Hurricane Ian struck below Pinellas in late September.

11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Weather: 73°-76°, cloudy all day, winds 13-19 mph. Nectar: thistles, Daisy fleabane, pickerelweed, buttonweed, frog fruit. LCooper, RSpink

Sunny and 68! Many ticks.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail not photo’d, seen in flight, patrolling thru light woods just west of summit; this is on the early side, however the species has occurred earlier in other years, at this precise location. All Falcates noticed were males (still), and numbers appear to have increased. A Juvenal’s Duskywing was patrolling both the summit and the south upper trail. Temp’s. topped out well into the 60’s F. with bright sun out.

Sunny and warm for a short time, then the fog came rolling in.

The few butterflies I saw looked to have seen better days, while the flowers they nectar on are barely getting started.

Sunny and 64-73.

Butterfly blowout! There was a constant flash of orange in the forest.

Very happy to see Great Purple Hairstreak! A bit sad that it flew past and beyond a fence and I could not chase it down for photos. This is not a complete list of sightings. About 3 more butterflies were seen but I was unable to identify them. Everything was on the move and not cooperating today. One was a blue that looked like maybe Silvery

Sunny, breezy, mid-60s. Cabbage Whites out in full force!

It was amazing to see that many Palamedes Swallowtails.

Crystal Skippers were in the grassy area around the fort. It was nice celebrating a lifer with Harry LeGrand, Jeff Pippen, Lori Arent and Randy Newman.

Observed a very tiny Early Hairstreak on the trail for about two minutes.

(28-107) Mostly sunny and temps reaching 72. Beautiful place to spend a few days.

According to Mike Rickard, the Black Checkerspot may be a first for Texas.

10:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Weather: 75°-77°, cloudy to sunny to partly cloudy, winds 13-28 mph. Nectar: thistles, Daisy fleabane, pickerelweed, frog fruit, buttonweed. LCooper, RSpink

Sunny and 74degrees. It is not typically this warm, but the first Cabbage White appeared.

1000-1330, 5 miles hiked along Hotel and Loop Trails. Only one species IDed but it was a lifer for me since I’m new to living out west.

This might be my favorite butterfly spot ever!

73F

This is my first week seeing butterflies again after a very snowy Winter. Yesterday two butterflies flew past me on a trail, but I could not ID them. Today I saw five butterflies in Rifle, CO, four of which I could ID. When I got home, a Crescent species flew up from my backyard over the roof. Happy butterflying!

Sunny, mid-60’s, 12:10-1:30PM

I stopped at the rest area for a break and this park adjoins it. Very nice boardwalk and great trails.

We were exploring an area along a creek when an Early Hairstreak flew onto a 4 foot tall briar! This was very exciting as we had seen our ‘lifer’ Early Hairstreak the day before 40 miles north in Hawkins County, TN.

One E. Tiger Swallowtail came to honeysuckle (non-native) shrubs loaded with blossoms by the summit, 2 of the swallowtails chased each other a few times as well. One of the Spring Azures sat briefly for a portrait in the trail just below the summit. This was first time this season I had noted a female Falcate Orangetip, which as photographed was on Yellow Corydalis at the summit (a native plant). The 2 Gray Hairstreaks were very difficult to observe or photograph, on a cedar tree that nearly overhangs the steep-sided slope at the summit, thus no great photo, just a ‘docu-photo’. Many other insects also were active, with a number of firsts-of-year to this observer, around the summit area.

Sunny and 74.

Sunny and 78. Highlights were a summer form Question Mark and a miniature black form female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

Butterflies were traveling across the water. Some landed on the boat!

74F
The Horace’s Duskywing showed up at least 10 times.

Sunny, 80 degrees, winds WSW at 11mph

Mostly sunny, breezy, low 80s. Most butterflies seen at or near the summit on the PA side.

55 degrees and sunny (briefly)

temps well above average, in 80’s, and sunny

30 to 40 duskywing males puddling around two mud holes on dirt road. No way to ID all of them but at least 80% Juvenal’s and all were males.

WV Whites were constantly on the move and IDed by flight characteristics and size

Property being monitored by Tall Timbers Research Station and FL Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI). 9:45 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Weather: 77°-88°, winds 8-13 mph, mostly sunny. Nectar: thistles, fleabane, pickerelweed, frog fruit. LCooper, DMcElveen, RMeyer, EPerry, RSpink

was 75 degrees and windy. Saw first Common Checkered-Skipper and Black Swallowtail of the year. Most butterflies were flying so hard to get many pictures of them.

Finally we are getting some nice weather, and butterfly numbers are picking up.

Cloudy and 72.

sunny and warm (70’s to 80’s)

Also saw several sulphurs and a few swallowtails, but no pics were obtained

First butterflies of the year: unidentified Anglewing and Mourning Cloak.

Hazy and 78.

Sunny, light breeze, 80s. Continued record warmth and very dry conditions. Surprised to see FOY Black Swallowtails!

83F construction area/waste

Sunny & breezy. With Bob Gorman & Diane Broduer.

Sunny & breezy. With Bob Gorman & Diane Broduer.

The Zebra Swallowtail was the objective here, and one showed up. Flew from behind me at shoulder level but got away before I could get my camera on it. Clear black and white swallowtail flashing red spot near tail. North section of park. This location has been reliable for this species in previous years. Also a dark swallowtail, looked like spicebush; UI duskywing; other sulphurs, either clouded or orange. (Walking around outside fenced areas of dog park. North and south section on either side of Hillsborough Rd.)

Sunny and 82. The ZSs were extremely hard to approach.

Sunny temps in low 80s & breezy early afternoon. First American Lady to visit the garden. It followed me around.

Sunny, 82 degrees and breezy. After what seemed like a long winter, it has warmed up quickly. I was hoping for a first of the season Olympia Marble but settled for an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail which tied my earliest date in 2012.

Partly cloudy, mild. Low 70s.

One Gulf Fritillary was very small; the other was very large - seen three times.

77F
The E. Cardinal site is about a block from my home.

Sunny, 45 degrees

Sunny, warm, and quite breezy. With Bob Gorman, Diane Broduer, Steven Glynn, and Peter DeGennaro.

(13-69) Gorgeous day. Couldn’t find a Striped. FL YR (109).

9:15 a.m.-5 p.m. Weather: 75°-90°, winds 3-6 mph, sunny to partly cloudy. Nectar: thistles, fleabane, pickerelweed, spermacoce, tickseed, saw palmetto. LCooper, CDunbar, SFarnsworth, EPerry, JPhillips, NPrine, AWhitlock. All photos are labeled.

Partly to mostly cloudy, 69-77 degrees and humid. Occasional light breeze. Noon-3pm. Both Henry’s Elfins ovipositing on redbud. One Cabbage White ovipositing on garlic mustard. Lots of patrolling/hilltopping activity among swallowtails, duskywings, mourning cloaks and gemmed satyrs at end of Saddle Dam. Season well advanced after warm February and several days of warm, sunny weather this past week. Looks more like late April/early May. Dogwood is even blooming!

Combined list from Garden Canyon and Coronado National Memorial

1045-1330. 5 miles, Bald Peaks to Serpentine Loop Trails from Rancho Canada Gold parking area. Three lifers today: Common Ringlet, Silvery Blue, Propertius Duskywing

Over a period of 90 minutes we saw 40-50 ‘Crystal Skippers’ in the sand dunes. Most were fresh individuals with none showing much wear.

Mostly sunny, warm & breezy.

Observations during a walk along the Root River in Lincoln Park from 1 to 2:30pm. Temperatures in the mid to upper seventies made for a summer-like break from our endless winter in Alaska. I saw a couple of small, fast-flying butterflies that looked a lot like American Snout - one in brush along Lake Michigan and the other in Lincoln Park - but I didn’t get good sightings so couldn’t be certain. Two of the Cabbage Whites I saw were mating (photographed). A friend texted to let me know of a butterfly sighting today in snow just south of Anchorage.

temp 82 well above average, cloudy

1st Monarch this year, last year on 4/16/23, both the earliest by a month or more is normal.

Today was a beautiful Spring day after more snow earlier this week. On the trails, I saw dandelions, violets, wild parsley, buttercups, phlox, and Purple mustard.
Sunny, breezy, mid 60s, 1:20-2:45PM.

Hiked the History Trail at Fontenelle Forest around 11:45. It was 51 degrees, sunny and little wind.

73F

Weather was clear, 81°-82°, 6-7mph winds
Surveyed from 2:25pm-4:45pm

R. Spink and B. Woodmansee

Sunny, cool to mild, 60s to 70s. 0930 - 1500

walked Fontenelle Forest trails for 2 hours. Temperature around 68 degrees. Saw Funeral Duskywing. Seldom see them so excited to see one.

Mostly sunny, mild, 60s. 0930-1530

12:30 - 5 p.m. 79°-80°, winds 10-18 mph, partly cloudy. Looking specifically for Florida Dusted/Loammi Skippers for UF research project. Most of them nectaring on Nuttall’s thistle and few on rapidly-declining Bull thistle. Recent rain broke the long dry spell. LCooper, RWalsh.

Sunny, 64 degrees, W/WNW winds at 10mph with likely gusts up to 15-20mph. Around 2pm. Jesse Amesbury and I got fantastic views of Hessel’s Hairstreaks, as in the gusty winds, they came down from the high canopy to sit in the low growing Atlantic White Cedars & gallberry in the bog. Jesse even spotted one hiding down in the grasses to avoid the wind, interesting behavior for this species. If anything, 4 might be an undercount with a few fluttering hairstreak-sized butterflies that were lost.

(9-34) Mostly sunny. Checked one stand of sparkleberry. (FL 112)

Weather was mostly clear-clear, 75°-84°, 8-12mph winds
Surveyed from 10:30am-3:30pm

R. Spink and B. Woodmansee

Sunny, mild, 70s. 0900-1430

9:15 a.m.-5 p.m. 76°-82°, winds 11-20 mph, mostly sunny all day. Surveying for Florida Dusted/Loammi Skippers for UF research project. Nectar: thistles, Daisy fleabane, pickerelweed, spermacoce, palmetto. LCooper, EPerry, RWalsh

plus numerous unid’d duskywing skippers.

Mid-late afternoon hike to summit area, where some of the species were hill-topping. Brown Elfins were seen in many areas at varied elevations. This species has been occurring in high numbers all thru the wider region this spring, it seems. One of the male Falcate Orangetips was nectaring at a host-plant of the species, a native wild rock cress (a poor photo is attached). Of the duskywings, Dreamy was sought as that species has been known to occur here, but none were found in a relatively fast-paced visit. Up in the higher parts of the mountain (to over 1,800 ft.) there were blueberries starting to bloom, and some insects including at least a few Brown Elfins nectaring among the blueberry blossoms. Many more native wild flowers were in bloom in the lowest elevations. Temp. had reached at least 60, with bright sun all day and a light wind in the area.

Rather early sightings for both species in this region. This site offers a warm/dry microclimate.

Sunny, 80 degrees. Exciting to see the first Cobweb Skippers this year.

1200-1345, Grizzly Flat Loop Trail. 2 miles. only a few species out even though it was sunny and warm. “Margined” Mustard White was a lifer for me.

Sightings were made at the summit and nearby Doodletown Road.

Over the past week 4/16 to 4/21 I have had at least 10 different Amethyst Hairstreak. All in blooming seagrape trees.

This is only the second time I have found Brown Elfins in Sullivan County since 2009.

Elfin was a lifer!

Cherry Creek and McMillan Campgrounds. 10-11 am, sunny, high 60’s

Both satyrs found in wet grass as sun came out on a mostly rainy day.

61 degrees and mostly sunny.

Sunny, winds 8 mph, temps in the low 90s at the lowest elevation, 2300 feet.

Afternoon hours with some full sun for a few hours, temp. around 60 [F.] high. Painted Ladys appeared to outnumber the one American Lady seen and photo’d., with one of the Painted Ladys also photographed with raised wings. All of the Falcate Orangetips I noticed were females, which contrasts with all prior visits to this site this month when males were predominantly seen. Red Admirals appeared only by around 4 pm in the area near the summit. Many nectar flowers, both native and non-native are by now in bloom here.

Busy in the garden when we made these observations so no time for photos. It is very dry here so expect activity to pick up with rain.

plus 3 unid’d duskywings on the next lawn.

Sunny 40 degrees at start and 52 when complete.
Spotted along the ridge at ~5300 ft.

Starting to do monthly survey at Homestead National Park in Beatrice, NE. April 24 was the first day of doing the survey this year. It was between 65-70 degrees, partly sunny and breezy. Saw some first of the year butterflies: Pearl Crescent, Common Buckeye, Variegated Fritillary, Dainty Sulphur and Gray Hairstreak.

74f The second dainty sulphur was especially tiny. The first one is on turkey tackle fogfruit. Plus several unid’d duskywings.

Partly sunny then overcast, low 60’s, 12:25-1:30PM

(15-98) Warm and sunny. Concentrated on finding the metalmarks and the Western Pygmy-Blues, which have rebounded nicely after last fall’s storm.

These were the only butterflies seen here today.

first half of weekly survey. 60-65 degrees, sunny and slight breeze. Out for 1.5 hours. First Dainty Sulphur at Forest.

76F