August 2016 Sightings

Delaware Skippers have always loved the Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) growing in my garden. Today I had the first Hibiscus bloom along with my FOY Delaware (missed the first brood here).

Most of my time was spent walking the nature trail through the marsh. I also walked the road near the old house for about 45 minutes.

Two ETS and a Spicebush Swallowtail visited the yard from time to time.

There are Peck's Skippers ranging from well worn to fresh. The Question Mark Cats are almost ready to change to the chrysalis stage.

Cabbage Whites and Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are an everyday occurrence in the downtown. There is a lull in Cabbage White numbers, at present.

Not much action tonight with cloudy & damp conditions. My wife Pat alerted me to a seemingly patriotic Eastern Comma.

Also multiple skippers.

Half of the butterfly species were in the skipper family. The best find in my mine was a female Tawny-edged Skipper.

Everyday, still, I see ETS crossing the highways - Woodbine (a Cabbage White) and Rte. 47 (2 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and a Cabbage White).

Overcast with spritzing rain off and on all day.

This section of the F&WMA is off of Rt. 540. Short 45 minute walk as rainstorm rolled in.

Found Appalachian Browns and Dion Skippers in a sedge habitat for our August records. There were plenty of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails at LT this day!

The Salt Marsh Skippers were getting nectar from Russian Sage in the garden.

First C. Wood-Nymph in my yard this season. While they have been common elsewhere, C. W-N has been uncommon in this immediate area. 3 female E. Tigers, one a black form. Delaware Skipper was in a white Lily sp. today.

Cloudy most of the day until late afternoon. Male and female Black Swallowtails, with female laying a few eggs on parsley. Male Zab new for this garden. Possible Red-spotted purple. Monarch ovipositing on common milkweed.

There were swallowtails, Cabbage Whites and Red-spotted Purples on this trip - Head of River (2 tigers and 2 Red-spotted Purples), Belleplain (2 Cabbage Whites, a tiger and a Spicebush Swallowtail), Woodbine (4 tigers and 4 spices) and CH-Dennisville Road (2 Cabbage Whites, 2 tigers and a spice).

There were skippers from the salt marsh downtown and an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail was gathering nectar from Echinacea flowers.

Zabs 2 males 1 female

Cloudy Day

A 'Summer Form' Question Mark gave chase to a Spicebush Swallowtail crossing the back yard. In this same yard, a Silver-spotted Skipper was egg laying on a Locust tree.

Nectaring on Mimosa

Searched high and low to find a Little Wood-Satyr for August and found one.

The over mowed yard does not have much to offer. A Cabbage White got nectar from Common Cat's-ear. It is a single plant with its lone flower and the only other nectar is a few clovers that escaped the blade.

On mimosa again

My dog-fighting Banded Hairstreaks have been replaced by Red-banded Hairstreaks dog-fighting at the top of a sunlit oak at 7 PM.