Recent sightings

Wanted to keep checking on the colony, but today's 49 degree temp and strong, blowing winds kept activity down, but not completely. I intend to keep checking into November, as I have had Sleepy's flying last year into November.

I was bringing potted plants inside for the winter and was amazed to see a Monarch chrysalis on one of the pots. The butterfly looked ready to emerge, so I kept a close watch on it. I was able to capture the moment when the butterfly appeared with a video and photos.

Partly sunny, west winds, 65 degrees. I was walking the field area in the afternoon.

64 degreees, part sun & 12-14 mph WNW wind. Sparse amount of Frost Aster. Monarch flying South over the dredge spoil hills.

Part sun and 63 degrees. Obs. between 2:35 & 3:18 Still some White Snakeroot in bloom here but not much nectaring observed today. A nice showing for Red Admirals here, mostly fresh.

Monarch finally emerged from chrysalis around 1:10 PM today. Temp 63, breezy, cloudy with a few breaks of sun.

Having seen salt marsh sk's here last week, was hoping for the same this week.

Early afternoon, sunny, windy and low 60's. After the night of our first frost, it seemed as if the butterflies were trying to soak up as much warmth as possible by presenting dorsally more often than ventrally. Some bushes were decorated by handfuls of dorsal presenting monarchs that made look ready for Christmas. The dark flecking on the cabbage suggests that winter is near.

Sunny, 60 with light winds. Butterfly activity up again. Black Swallowtail and Brazilian Skipper cats still feeding. I keep finding more Brazilian Skipper chrysalis on the cannas. I believe the Brazilian Skipper I saw today had just eclosed. It sat on the front wall of the house for over an hr. I believe it was drying its wings. 4 other species chrysalis also here.

Obs. made here between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Sun and mid 50's. This was my 3rd Ocola this year in Gloucester County. Was nectaring on buddleia. Red Admiral & American Lady were enjoying the nice supply of Montauk Daisies.

Sunny till nearly 2 p.m. today. Temp. topped out around 61

during guided walk, 10-12:30.
monarchs nectaring on asters

temp's about 60 with winds 15 MPH and sun.

Still anxiously awaiting the emergence. One Monarch flew by.

Walking the beach area at the end of the road. And then had some butterflies as I started back. Strong NW winds, mostly sunny, 45 degrees or so.

4:30-5:50 pm. 62 degrees and spots of sun, but windy. Very little nectar.

Just a quick stroll through the garden at the end of the day. Red Admiral was at fruit dish.

The 70th day this year in which monarch was recorded in this garden. 3rd best showing here in at least 20 years.

Anxiously awaiting the emergence of our Monarch butterfly from its chrysalis. One Monarch flew by today. [From the look of the chrysalis, today (10-18) may be the day. - jm]

Very few species but Brazilian continues

Spent about 45 minutes in the garden. Sunny, but quite windy about 15-18 MPH, temp's mid 60's. 13+ Black Swallowtail cats. Did not look for other cats but on my Orange Sulphur picture is a cat on the aster center. Wonder if it could be a Pearl Crescent cat. I haven't ever checked out my asters. Have 5 species of chrysalises -BS, Spicebush Swallowtail, QM, Monarch & 6 Brazilian Skippers. Over 20 Sachems counted in the yard which I find amazing. Images of all butterflies seen. (And I wish the winds would quit not ready for the season to be over)

60 sunny windy. Seen of all things a Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera) Introduced Species.

Very quick walk through the garden on my way out for the day mid morning. Sunny mid 60's

after 1pm, sunny, high 50's

Sunny, windy, in the 50's

2-3 pm, sunny, low 60s. Lovely day but butterfly season winding down here. Two male pipevines continuing their dogfights. (One or more of the species here every day we've looked since 9/30/18.) Also, two shots of possible orange x clouded sulphur hybrid (female).

Mid 60's & Drizzle

Rain again this morning but clear by 10AM with sun and clouds, 72 but again quite windy with most butterflies flying low. Cloudless Sulphur blown all over when first here as was the Pipevine Swallowtail. Winds died down mid-afternoon. Still have 10 Monarchs feeding in the back gardens at 6:15PM. Still have Question Mark chrysalises. Images of all butterflies except Ocola.

Observations made between 3:30- 4:30 at 70 degrees with a few flashes of sun after the rains. Happy to have found a Pieris Rapae Tomlinsonia. Sad, however, to have had my last Brazilian sk eclose today. I have thoroughly enjoyed their presence as eggs, cats, chrysalises, and adults throughout the Cape these past months. The leaf-folding cats were a hoot to watch.

Sunny in AM then by 11AM mostly cloudy. Little wind. Still good numbers of Monarchs. Checked Brazilian Skipper cats with many large sized and still doing well. Chrysalis pictured has been on the worst side of the winds we have been having but looks fine. When cutting back canna flower stalks scared a Brazilian Skipper out of it's hiding place in the cannas.

Time: 3:45. Temperature: 57 degrees. The sun barely peeks out of the heavy clouds and a monarch butterfly lands, to feed, on the tithonia. The only butterfly sighting of the weekend.

Mist & drizzle in the early AM then sunny by 11AM with intermittent clouds with windy conditions. Temps low 60's. Black Swallowtail, Monarch and Brazilian Skipper cats continue. Chrysalis of those plus 4 Spicebush Swallowtail and 2 Question Mark chrysalis also continue. There are at least 6 Brazilian Skipper chrysalis on the canna leaves front yard though close to the house. Wondering how the winds and temps might have affected them. Fallout in lower Cape May County of Yellow-billed Cuckoo's including in my yard.

Brief check, 4:00-4:20. Temp low 60s.
Pipevine s'tail showing some wear after days of dogfights.
Three monarch chrysalids remain unopened..

1:00-1:30pm
Saw 3 Eastern commas in one spot. Saw another two nearby, possibly the same individuals. They blended with the fallen leaves perfectly.

Terribly windy during the night and early morning from Tropical Storm Michael . Mid-AM sunshine and decreased winds with butterflies flying. Temps in mid 60's. Monarch cat on walkabout looking to make the chrysalis.

RBH & Sachems primarily nectaring on "encore" Azaleas.

No sign of Monarchs here today after last night's storms. Windy and 60-62 degrees today.

Nice day in the yard, sun and clouds mixed temps in the 70's. Black Swallowtail, Monarch & Brazilian Skipper cats continue with chrysalis of each species plus Spicebush Swallowtail and Question Mark Chrysalis. Today, was the first day I have not seen a Brazilian Skipper flying in the yard for 8 weeks. Red-spotted Purple nectaring daily on rotting fruit.

Sunny and 80's mid-afternoon

On and off observations throughout the day. Quick glance and shot in late afternoon of either a female pipevine or a very worn male(?)
Surprisingly dark female sachem.

Also have 3 monarch cats and 2 chrysalises left.

My Brazilian Skipper chrysalis eclosed today with a release at 2PM. It briefly came back inside the house but quickly left never to be seen again! I prowled the garden for quite some time.

[Harvey's Aaron's sk is a new LOY date. Our previous LOY was 10-6-16. Congrats to Harvey for his find. - jm]