December 2016 Sightings

Harvey Tomlinson

My Garden Del Haven
Cape May County, NJ

Hard to believe late date for Admiral is 12-31,1-1
I'm guessing this one won't make that.

  • Red Admiral 1

Red Admiral

Jack Miller

Rt 607; field near the Beanery
Cape May County, NJ

This field has plenty of mustard bloom. At least 4 white form sulphurs.

  • Sulphur sp. 6
  • Clouded Sulphur 2
  • Orange Sulphur 12
  • Variegated Fritillary 1
  • Common Buckeye 3

Sulphur sp.

Variegated Fritillary

Jack Miller

Woodcock Lane
Cape May County, NJ

Stopped for a quick look to see if this location will hold sulphurs like December 2015.

  • Orange Sulphur 7

Will Kerling

Railroad Tracks along Magnolia Drive - CMCH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

I saw 4 male Common Buckeyes flying together in a tight circle over territory.

  • Orange Sulphur 1
  • Common Buckeye 5

Common Buckeye

Will Kerling

Woodcock Lane - Cape May CH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

The early morning hours were gorgeous with full sun and no clouds. A field was lite up with sulphur activity - 14 Orange Sulphurs and a fresh, Clouded Sulphur!!

  • Clouded Sulphur 1
  • Orange Sulphur 14

Orange Sulphur

Sandra Keller

Forsythe NWR - the area behind the bathrooms.
Atlantic County, NJ

Mostly sunny, 57 degrees. Out of the wind back here. I wasn't expecting butterflies!

  • Cloudless Sulphur 2

Jack Miller

Coral Ave. CM Point
Cape May County, NJ

Tagged monarch.

  • Monarch 1

Jack Miller

Fulling Mill Rd., across from par 3 golfcourse
Cape May County, NJ

Sunny until 1:30; mid 50's. Still a few asters and goldenrod in bloom.

  • Orange Sulphur 2
  • Common Buckeye 3

Chip Krilowicz & Jean Gutsmuth

Wheelabrator
Gloucester County, NJ

54 Sunny and windy. Just over 2 hrs of looking provided only 5 butterflies. My mouth dropped when a flying Orange Sulphur turned out to be a Sleepy Orange! Jean Gutsmuth first spotted it when flushed from the leaf litter. It flew (flashing a lot of orange) to a nearby tree where it landed on the lowest branch under one of the leaves. After poking my head trying to find it, I was unable. After I gave the branch a vigorous shake it finally flew and landed nearby. My first for the month and county.

Moderator's Note: Goodness! What a find! Sleepy orange is always rare in South Jersey, and here Chip and Jean have found what seems to be an adult in "winter form." This report is also our latest report ever (old record = 11-22-2010). jc

  • Sleepy Orange 1
  • Variegated Fritillary 1
  • Anglewing sp. 1
  • Eastern Comma 1
  • Common Buckeye 1

Variegated Fritillary

Eastern Comma

Sleepy Orange

David L. Amadio

Riverwinds community center field
Gloucester County, NJ

Kicked up a couple of Sulphurs on this wind swept field.

  • Orange Sulphur 2

Mike Hannisian

Forsythe NWR
Atlantic County, NJ

Only Lep seen

  • Common Buckeye 1

Will Kerling

Cape May NWR - Cape May CH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

Flushed two Orange Sulphurs in 45 degree weather with stiff winds!

  • Orange Sulphur 2

Orange Sulphur

David L. Amadio

Riverwinds River Trail
Gloucester County, NJ

Sunny, windy and 50 degrees.

  • Orange Sulphur 2
  • Red Admiral 2

Red Admiral

Will Kerling

Railroad Tracks along Magnolia Drive - CMCH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

Found 5 buckeyes here yesterday and felt lucky to find one buckeye today in this location. The weather was harsh with the constant breezes and the temperatures, barely, reaching middle forties.

  • Common Buckeye 1

Common Buckeye

Pat & Clay Sutton

Cox Hall Creek WMA
Cape May County, NJ

  • Common Buckeye 1

Beth Polvino

North Cape May ~ my yard NABA # 1151 & Monarch Waystation #8318
Cape May County, NJ

My eyes caught a flash of orange in the gardens when I went out for the mail. I looked down and found this Monarch. She looked like she was trying to pump up her wings so I moved her to a more protected area as winds are 25-30 MPH right now at 48 F. Also found 2 Black Swallowtail chrysalis.

  • Black Swallowtail 0
  • Monarch 1

Black Swallowtail chrysalis

Monarch

Will Kerling

Cape May NWR - CMCH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

Orange Sulphurs and a Clouded Sulphur were basking in the early sun at 45 degrees and little wind.
Photo of a basking Orange Sulphur.

  • Clouded Sulphur 1
  • Orange Sulphur 2

Orange Sulphur

Will Kerling

Downtown Cape May Court House, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

Discovered a female Sachem near a wall at Acme Market and an Orange Sulphur on the MTBP.

  • Common Buckeye 1
  • Sachem 1

Sachem

Will Kerling

Railroad Tracks along Magnolia Drive - CMCH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

Found a lone buckeye at this site.

  • Common Buckeye 1

Common Buckeye

Will Kerling

High's Beach Road off Rte. 47 - CMCH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

A female Orange Sulphur did not mind a day in the high forties. It was moving around on its own.

  • Orange Sulphur 1

Orange Sulphur

Will Kerling

Cape May NWR - CMCH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

Flushed two Orange Sulphurs and it was around 50 degrees.

  • Orange Sulphur 2

Orange Sulphur

Beth Polvino

North Cape May ~ my yard NABA # 1151 & Monarch Waystation #8318
Cape May County, NJ

Black Swallowtail chrysalis continue. Monarch continues lower left wing deformed but able to get between Lantana and zinna flowers in the back yard.

  • Black Swallowtail 0
  • Monarch 1

Monarch

Beth Polvino

North Cape May ~ my yard NABA # 1151 & Monarch Waystation #8318
Cape May County, NJ

Monarch continues to feed in the back yard. Remains close to the ground. Black swallowtail chrysalis continue 48 F, cloudy with very brief periods of sun

  • Black Swallowtail 0
  • Monarch 1

Monarch

Sandra Keller

Coral Ave. Dune crossing area
Cape May County, NJ

Cloudy, 48 degrees, north winds. I wasn't expecting butterflies! The Monarch was in low flight when the sun came out briefly.

  • Monarch 1

Beth Polvino

North Cape May ~ my yard NABA # 1151 & Monarch Waystation #8318
Cape May County, NJ

2 Black Swallowtail Chrysalis Continue & found 2 monarch Caterpillars when working in the garden late afternoon on 12/13. They all continue today.

Moderator's Note: Interesting find! And Beth had monarch cats in her garden last December as well – all the way to New Year's Eve, 2015. jc

  • Black Swallowtail 0
  • Monarch 0

Monarch

Monarch

Will Kerling

Cape May NWR - CMCH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

Discovered six different Orange Sulphurs before 10:30 am. Some were very greenish on their undersides. It was around 43 degrees with full sun. Photos of all individuals.

  • Orange Sulphur 6

Orange Sulphur

Orange Sulphur

Beth Polvino

North Cape May ~ my yard NABA # 1151 & Monarch Waystation #8318
Cape May County, NJ

Windy 15 -25 MPH, partly sunny temp's mid 40's 2 Black Swallowtail chrysalis & 2 Monarch caterpillars continue.

Moderator: Seems like two tough monarch cats! jc

  • Black Swallowtail 0
  • Monarch 0

monarch

Will Kerling

Cape May NWR - CMCH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

After an arctic blast of weather for over two days and nights, I found 8 Orange Sulphurs that survived temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 degrees, including high winds, to fly again! It was sunny and towards 60 degrees this morning.

[Moderator: More evidence that butterflies are tougher than they look. jc]

  • Orange Sulphur 8

Orange Sulphur

Will Kerling

Cape May NWR - Cape May CH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

Discovered an Orange Sulphur laterally basking in full sun, no wind and 33 degrees. It flew when I pressed the shutter button and escaped the frame.

  • Orange Sulphur 1

Will Kerling

Cape May NWR - Cape May CH, NJ
Cape May County, NJ

At a balmy 37 degrees, the Orange Sulphurs were flying around on their own. Counted, at least, 8 different individuals. There were, most likely, a few more.

  • Orange Sulphur 8

Orange Sulphur

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