October 2017 Sightings

The Painted Ladies are so common this year regardless of the time or weather.

Saw brighter skies and headed to the dredge spoil site . Spent about an hour from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. All nectaring observed on Frost Asters.

Saw a Monarch flying toward the south.

Cabbage Whites were active and I saw a Painted Lady, also.

Found 4 butterfly species on a marginal day.

A late afternoon 45 min. tour. Cloudy, breezy and 68 degrees. Most of the White Snakeroot is finished for the season. Found a fresh female Fiery Skipper on some remaining Snakeroot.

All were seen when sun momentarily peeked through in the p.m.

Barely, found a butterfly on this cloudy and chilly day. At 4:20 pm, a Question Mark flew by me in the cemetery and disappeared into the dark and shady forest.

Walked the trail between Bunker Pond and the dune from the Park, down and through the SCMM, and back.

Fresh Cabbage White was in the house on window screen. Not sure how it made its entrance. Worn Red Admiral observed by Pat earlier in the day on Lantana.

Cabbage Whites nectaring on a very small patch of Frost Aster.

60 and sunny, 7 Black Swallowtail Cats.

Discovered a Variegated Fritillary this day. Painted ladies were active per usual.

There were a few Painted Ladies and plenty of Monarchs to be seen ; especially , in the dune system along the ocean.

There was one total rag Painted Lady and nine others on the Asters.

Gorgeous day to enjoy outside. Teamed up to survey Dix WMA and the Sleepy Orange colony again. Some beautiful individuals still flying.

11am; clear high pressure weather. Sachem and Painted Lady activity continues here, Cabbage ever present. No sightings of Monarchs since 2 seen 10th Oct.

Stopped by Beth's beautiful garden this am and was overwhelmed with the number of butterflies still flying.
Painted Ladies numbered 50+ with Monarchs in the 20's.
It's no wonder that Purple Hairstreak, Brazillian Skipper, and Sleepy Orange found this spot….and it's not over yet.
Clouded Skipper maybe….

After being gone most of the day arrived home to many, many Monarchs front and back gardens. Est. amt 60-70 minimum. Many pictures and video taken. 2 Monarch chrysalis on side of house/garage and 1 Monarch Caterpillar. Painted Ladies continue in good numbers also. Many Black Swallowtail Caterpillars on Curly Parsley.

Another place, that was covered with Painted Ladies (outnumbered American Ladies - 20 to 1). All the Monarchs were moving to the south.

Mid-day stroll through the garden. Mourning Cloak was a fly through. Fruit dish saturated with recent rain and probably not very enticing.

Most nectar gone. Just a bit of Seaside Goldenrod out by the road end and some white-blooming asters along the road. Red Admiral was in the woods, other butterflies were out on the stretch of road in the marsh.

Today at the lighthouse a display skiff planted with Marigolds, various pollinators and nectar providers, made an effective way-station for butterflies. The long lawn perimeter will be planted with nectar and pollinators next year. One Monarch basked for several minutes in the warm sand.

While working in yard, 1:30-3:00, sunny, little/no wind, temp high 60s. Ladies on Verbena mostly. Buckeye number a pleasant surprise.

40 to 70 and Sunny. All butterfly sightings are from one Butterfly Bush in my back yard. It is in the sun from about 10:00 to 3:30. Butterflies were on the wing all day. Numbers given are just from a single count when all were in view. Hemaris thysbe – Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (photo) and Chrysodeixis-includens - Soybean Looper Moth also paid a visit. I was able to find 7 Black swallowtail Cats.

All the butterflies are going to the Frost Asters. There were 9 buckeyes on one small Frost Aster plant.

Mums were attracting butterflies.

Quick check of the Bronze Copper colony on this property as I was travelling back home.