August 2016 Sightings

Leading guided nature walk, 2.3 miles from 9:00-11:45.
Checkered skipper feeding on buttonweed, Delaware Skipper feeding on tick trefoils. The rest of the species were either flying or perched on leaves.

The American Snout was only 2nd sighting for the yard. A Dark Morph Eastern Tiger Swallowtail was seen as well.

The most pleasant surprise was a couple of passing through Cloudless Sulphurs.

This trip had Cloudless Sulphurs, a Spicebush Swallowtail and a Cabbage White in it - Woodbine (Cloudless Sulphur), Rte. 47 ( a Spicebush Swallowtail and a Cloudless Sulphur) and CMCH (a Cabbage White).

Huge yellow male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 4:50 pm making leisurely rounds of the garden, alighted for 8 seconds at arm's length from me on phlox. Used time to look at detail, no camera.

Very quick stop to check out the blooming wild Gayfeather. Saw two Cloudless Sulphurs and a Silver-spotted Skipper getting nectar from them.

There was a deformed Monarch in the back lawn.

Sachems were enjoying the nectar of Common Cat's-ear until the sun closed the blossoms. Photo of a Cabbage White on a closing Common Cat's-ear blossom.

There were 2 Cloudless Sulphurs on this road.

8 Monarchs released, another flying in the yard. 3 black swallowtail chrysalids and 14 cats on parsley.

The highest species count this year here. Monarch was flying south along the edge of NJ Turnpike.

Some very fresh m. black swallowtails, a fresh tawny-edged sk, a return of the sootywing, cloudless sulfurs laying eggs on the partridge peas, and a new yard record for buckeyes today.

Found four Fiery Skippers and they were all really beaten up!

Sightings from impoundment drive only. Numbers may look "Big" but remember the drive is 5+ miles.
Little Yellows were a real treat! The only skippers I saw were Least. The Orange sulphur in photo was as large as a Cloudless Sulphur. Huge.

15 Black Swallowtail caterpillars on Parsley. One of the Cloudless Sulphurs was laying eggs on Partridge Pea. The Red-spotted Purples were "over the top" with 42 at days end. Many were chasing each other around (mating activity)!

Was just thinking it was time for a fiery skipper to show up, went out to the garden, and there he was!

American snouts continue the best year we have ever had for them in our garden (while many other species seem to be "under-performing" here so far).