October 2017 Sightings

At work today.

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

Partial sun but pleasant in the 70s.

68 sunny. Ladies and Monarchs flying all day in and out of yard. Numbers are only of what I counted feeding at the same time on one butterfly bush.

9:30-12:20, 2 mile loop

Brief stroll through the garden.

Goldenrods pulling in butterflies.

10am
Smith's Woods butterfly garden
3 black swallowtail caterpillars on fennel

Late afternoon walk here–fading light. Butterfly garden has nectar but also tall weeds.

Nice to finally see Ocola skippers in the garden.

Both Lady species, Monarchs, Common Buckeyes, and Sachems are sill common to abundant in my yard. At least 5 Ocola Skippers here. Found either the same Long-tailed Skipper after a week though only had 1 tail or another new LTS. Sunny today mid 70's with little wind. About 70 Black Swallowtail cats or chrysalis here. Several Monarch cats also seen.

68 and Sunny

Found a fresh 'Winter Form' Eastern Comma here and a fresh Swarthy Skipper.
Photos of an Eastern Tailed-Blue and a Green Snake.

I spotted this butterfly this morning in my garden.

[Welcome to a new observer/reporter – Marie Victor – who makes her first report an exciting one. jc]

Once again, the Painted Ladies were showing their presence.

We saw a Monarch crossing the bay here.

There were plenty of Painted Ladies and Common Buckeyes on the Seaside Goldenrod.

It was a very big day for Painted Ladies! Did see two Ocola Skippers, also.

1 Monarch chrysalis

I walked the area west of the main parking lot. Lots of nectar. Partly sunny, 77 degrees. Light SW winds. Seems late for the Azure.

Found worn Tawny-edged Skippers.
Photos of dorsal and ventral view of Tawny-edged Skipper.

This private garden is loaded with nectar still and activity is wonderful

Ocolas found in numbers today. A Sleepy Orange was also a pleasant find. Could this be one wandering over from Dix WMA?

Abundant Sachems not counted today, though many of them are really worn out rags now.

78 degrees was home working in the garden. Male monarch released; one chrysalis and one late instar cat found in garden. Painted lady and anglewing attracted to damp stones in driveway. 3 black swallowtail cats–2 on parsley and one on rue.

Continued monitoring of the Sleepy Orange colony reveals several individuals still flying and active. Activity is still limited to deep grasses, in and around the host plant stands.

Areas within the WMA have been mowed to open access to hunters, including areas within the key Sleepy Orange colony area, but major host plant area remains intact.

Hunting activities are picking up and precautions are mandated at this point if any visit to the WMA.

Seaside Goldenrod this fall seems to always have Painted Ladies, Common Buckeyes and Monarchs.

Found 8 American Coppers and an Ocola skipper on a Frost Aster plant.

Painted Ladies just about everywhere including this garden.

Light breeze, partly cloudy, 80 degrees. Lots of ladies and Monarchs here today. Double-crested Cormorants heading south over the marsh in large flocks.