October 2017 Sightings

Found my first Aaron's Skipper in the month of October. We saw a Lady species come across the bay from Delaware into the dunes after the sun went down.
There were lots of Monarchs, Painted Ladies and Common Buckeyes on the Seaside Goldenrod in the dune system.

A surprising 19 species here this afternoon. One has to get off into the drifts of White Snakeroot & Stinging nettles to find them. This area is often the best Glouco spot for Fiery Skippers. Found 7 males today. Also a fresh brood of R.B.Hairstreaks.

Two species not seen here yesterday – black s'tail and fiery skipper. (Missed two also – orange sulphur and pearl crescent.) More sachems today probably bcs sunnier and less breezy during short afternoon search (3:30-4:15). Temp ~70.

Fresh Red Banded Hairstreak & Zab in the garden.

Just checked the garden and adjacent field. found a female Fiery Skipper on the Montauk daisy.

Pleased to see a female and a male Zabulon Skipper. Also, saw a Monarch riding the thermals with 4 Turkey Vultures through the binoculars!
Photos of a Pearl Crescent resting through a cloudy period and closeups of the eyes and palpi of a Pearl Crescent and an Orange Sulphur.

8 to 11 am.

The garden is in decline now with mostly Frost Aster and some New England Aster still blooming.

end of day stroll through the garden

Calm, partly cloudy with clear skies in the evening. Monarchs moving south all day and roosting in Black Cherry Trees toward dark.

from Madison Ave to Gurney Street

Counted 13 American Coppers and there was , most likely , more.

Sunny and pleasant 68F

Discovered a Red-spotted Purple egg laying on the tips of Black Cherry leaves. Also, one Black Cherry leaf had a first instar cat on it.
Photo of a Red-spotted Purple, a fresh R-s P egg and a first instar R-s P cat.

Boardwalk only- Red Overlook Trails closed for repairs

9:15-1:30, primarily along auto-tour dikes. Temp ~60-70, sunny, breezy, beautiful day. A couple of probable clouded sulphurs (or hybrids). One white form clouded/orange. One white form cloudless. Only Am lady seen was so recently emerged it was reluctant to fly. Q'mark and red admiral also seemed very fresh. Monarchs apparently not on-the-move, instead mostly making short flights among seaside goldenrod.

Found two butterfly species in the Panoquina genus. These skippers have longer forewings than hind wings. One is local (Salt Marsh Skipper) and the other comes from the deep south (Ocola Skipper).
Photos - dorsal view of Salt Marsh Skipper and a dorsal view of Ocola Skipper with a male Sachem above it

It is the third day in a row that the Monarchs and the Common Buckeyes are on the move toward the south. There is a noticeable movement of Cloudless Sulphurs going northward.

Found 2 Zabulon Skippers (female and male) and a female Fiery Skipper near Knapweed.
Photos of a worn Zabulon Skipper, a fresh Painted Lady and an Orange Sulphur getting nectar from Frost Aster.

Common Buckeyes, Painted Ladies and Monarchs were easy to find on the Seaside Goldenrod. This was a very brief survey.
Photos of a Common Buckeye and a Monarch on Seaside Goldenrod.

Once again, there Painted Ladies and Monarchs everywhere one would stop.

The butterflies were drifting south along the ocean.

Common Buckeyes, Painted Ladies and Monarchs were moving everywhere we went this day.

There were 12 Ocola Skippers in this garden and a tattered White M Hairstreak. This was my first White M Hairstreak in this yard over the years.

There was a fresh Ocola Skipper on Black-eyed Susan flower.

Monarchs were moving to the south before 9 am.

At work today.

There was a fresh male, White M Hairstreak on Seaside Goldenrod.