October 2016 Sightings

Large fields of frost aster near Veteran's Park and basketball parking areas checked in a mid-morning visit.

Found an Ocola Skipper getting nectar from a Frost Aster plant.

The Cloudless Sulphurs were madly nectaring on Jewelweed – knew of it as a hummingbird attractant, but fun to see the butterflies drawn to it too.

The Common Buckeyes have moved south of this site, at least, for now. The lone one is missing an antennae and lots of wing pieces.
Counted a total of 6 Ocola Skippers in four different locations. My best year for Ocola Skippers in the Cape May CH Area!

Another Ocola for this garden. Tawny-edged Skipper found near the 9-11 memorial.

All the butterflies here were getting nectar from Frost Asters.

Mostly Lespedeza sp. with limited amounts of goldenrod.

Found 3 Ocola Skippers on the bike trail.

The best find was a late season Silver-spotted Skipper which landed on the ground near me. A very worn Gray Hairstreak was on a purple-flowering aster.

The best find was a territorial Viceroy within the forest of the park. Common Buckeye was the most common butterfly on this walk. It was really odd not to see a single Cloudless Sulphur.

This garden is always a real treat in the fall! Looked for Clouded skipper without luck. See this bug here or in the Triangle garden some years.

Surprise find of a Red-banded Hairstreak.

Saw two Cloudless Sulphurs downtown and they were the only butterflies of this species today which including a trip to the Cape May area!!

Continuing decline of activity, but still with diversity and some numbers of certain species. Sleepy Orange not found again on this return visit.

Re-found a suspicious skipper that puzzled me from last week.

[Congratulations to Steve G and companions on new latest-ever date for dun skipper. Old record: 10-12-13. jc]

'Rosa form' Common Buckeye in the lawn grass and a surprise Pearl Crescent that drifted through the property.

It was late afternoon and the butterflies were mostly done for the day.

Butterflies seen on the streets of CMP while traveling to another hot spot garden.

13 monarch chrysalis continue plus 2 newly emerged monarchs today

Common Buckeyes were flushing constantly out of the grasses.

The Long-tail stayed and nectared on the Butterfly Bush for at least an hour, until the bush fell into shade. Red Admiral was mint fresh. Ocolas continue on!

Very brief look at a row of Frost Asters (yes, a row), near the farm stand. It was loaded with Common Buckeyes.

Male Zabulon Skipper ties late date for this garden.

[And Dave's zab is also getting close to our log's all-time latest-ever: 10-18-12. jc]

Noticed while on Saturday bird walk

[Moderator's Note: this report from Mike ties our log's latest-ever date for tiger swallowtail – 10/15/13. jc]

Ocola and Fiery Skippers were very active in this garden.

A male Sachem and a Sulphur species on a Butterfly Bush.

The Pearl Crescent population is building!

Worn cabbage white female lifted abdomen to reject fresh male over several minutes.