October 2015 Sightings

spotty sun, windy and cool–monarch released (2 to go!) couple of black swallowtail cats.

American Lady was very fresh nectaring on yellow lantana.

Nice day.

First sun of October poked out about 3 pm. Monarch and sachem both males.

Only about 25 min. observation. The Tawny-edge was a male.

Moderator's note: This ties our second-latest date for tawny-edged (= 10/5/12). Only a report on 10/15/13 came later in the season.

13 species in the State Park today and 14 overall in Cape May Point. Most of the Buckeyes & Monarchs were observed between the plover ponds & the dune system.

Still plenty of nectar here. Butterfly numbers slowly recovering from storms. visited several times througout the afternoon.

Butterfly bushes doing well. Also Montauk Daisy in bloom.

Millie came out to show us her Monarch cats. She has at least 15 on three species of Milkweed: Common, Swamp, & Tropical.

Observations made from car. Private residence.

sunny, common checkered skippers flying in and out of garden plots and nectaring on white clover on edge of plots. Variegated Frit was fresh.

Additionally found on side garage wall and under attached (7 ft high) deck: 6 Monarch chrysalis, 2 Monarch cats looking for a place to pupate and 1 failed Monarch cat (doesn't include chrysalis from 10/5).

About 20 min. in the morning here. Extensive damage to gardens from coastal storms.

4:00 to 4:10 stop.

SJB field trip second stop.

Moderator's note. This is only our third report of long-tailed this year – and the second documented with a photo.

To enlarge any photo, click on it. To return to the report, ESC.

Late afternoon check (4:00-4:45 pm). First Ocola here in two weeks. Peck's a worn female.

SJB field trip fourth stop.

Watched the monarchs settle in for the night at sunset. Beautiful beyond words.

SJB field trip third stop.

also additional 5 Monarch cats seen

SJBF field trip to Heislerville (and other Bayshore locations) with Jack and Jesse Connor, Jean Gutsmith, Chip Krilowicz, and Mike Hannisian. Began 10:00, cloudy and low 60's. Sun by 10:40 warming to 70 with light NW. 17 species here. 22 species for the day.

Moderator's note: a report of the field trip, with photos, will be posted on the log later today (10/8/15). Thanks to Jack Miller for leading such a successful trip!

4:30- 5:30. Sunny, 70, light NW. Buckeyes and monarchs drifting south. The mourning cloak (my first in O.C.) came in off the ocean and landed on the beach.

Moderator's note: The NYC Butterfly Club's 1993 checklist notes, "Most fall…records are coastal migrants" (as reported in Gochfeld & Burger, p. 193.)

Late afternoon observations along first plover pond. Summary of today's "southern strays": Cloudless Sulphur 4, Ocola skipper 47, & Fiery Skipper 23

Moderator's note: I will go back through the records, but I believe that both the Ocola total and the fiery totals are new single–day high counts in our eight years of logging. Somehow, despite (because of?) last week's storm, southern immigrants are on the move!