June 2016 Sightings

Extensive milkweed yet to mature and bloom. Coral Hairstreaks yet to emerge. Dial counter used for European Skipper count. American Copper is my FOS.

One Am. Lady was mint-fresh, nectaring on Mock Orange. Female Zab. was nectaring on Red Clover. Red-sp. Purple laying eggs on Black Cherry. Observed Nessus Sphinx Moth nectaring in yard.

Very high numbers of Cabbage Whites continue. Found a really tattered E. Comma that was still flying around (photo).

Between Indian Trail Road and Oyster Road, I discovered 7 butterfly species. The best sighting for me was a fresh Variegated Fritillary gathering nectar on Red Clover.

Surprised to see a snout in the back yard!

Still had some flesh, so I gave the deer flies another chance today. Coppers less active today. Q-Mark was a "summer form". Also saw two Satyrium-sized hairstreaks in a dogfight but lost track of them.

During special Retail Sale Day garden tours I gave.

Saw a Cabbage White at each of these locations.

Found 12 butterfly species and the Appalachian Browns where flying in an excellent sedge habitat, as I had hoped. The male Zabulon Skippers are turning into rags.

Continuing weak flight in area. Numbers and species way down. Skippers and Wild Indigo Duskywings usually in strong flights, with use of "conservative count" terminology normal for this territory, but flights aren't happening (yet) this year.

Another depressing circumstance, as the near solid fields of common milkweed have been reduced 75% by purple vetch that is crowding out the milkweed and overrunning the preserve and its formerly excellent butterfly habitat. Only the Silver-spotted Skippers seem to enjoy this habitat change.

The American Coppers emerging today for the second time this year in this location. Witnessed a male Silver-spotted Skipper pursuing a female.

Feeding later in the day on salvia in the shade. But, temps were in the low 90's.

Few deer flies here, but much more wind than at Riverwinds. Red Admirals were ducking in and out of the reeds along the powerline cut.

Sunny, 88 degrees. Also 2 early black Swallowtail cats on fennel.

Very windy. Did not cover the area as extensively as yesterday.

FOY Salt Marsh for my yard. Female Black ST laying eggs on Fennel.

FOY Question Mark, FOY Silver-spotted Skipper

Not many flowers yet, but the biggest field of milkweed I have ever seen. In another week it will be amazing.

No trails - roadside viewing only. Finally my first monarch of the year!!

Black Swallowtail ovipositing on Fennel. Comma spending lots of time on fruit dish of bananas.

I walked north from the ballfields area. Sunny, 87 degrees, very windy. I was hoping for some wetlands butterflies like a Brown. No success.

Spent several hours walking the F&WMA battling the winds.

3-4pm
2 of the Zabulon skippers (males) were completely worn