August 2018 Sightings

Smith's Woods butterfly garden, during children's program; 10-11am
3 monarch caterpillars

Flyby

4-5 pm, high 80s, humid, partly cloudy. In 10-15 minute search of milkweeds could find only one monarch cat (worn adult was ovipositing).

Late in the day 5:15-6. Humid, 89 degrees but partly cloudy. One late instar Monarch cat on c. milkweed in the garden. Two additional monarch cats on the trail. Road to the river active with E. Commas. Garden had male and female Spicebush ST, Red Admiral, Zabulon skipper, C. White, Silver-spotted skipper, Broad-winged skipper, sachem.

[Interesting that we have had several double-digit counts of e. commas recently – from both GLO (Herz and Amadio) and BUR (Bailey). jc]

eastern tiger fly-by (ignoring butterfly bush); black swallowtail stopped briefly to sip; monarch still at it as I write (for hours), skippers

Usual robust number of monarchs, a pair of spicebush, black swallowtails, question marks and skippers.

Black ST released, 6 others in chrysalis, 5 Monarch cats and 6 in chrysalis. Sachems disappeared after all the rains.

both sides of Smithville Park, starting at the butterfly garden.
1 monarch caterpillar on common milkweed

Stand of Yellow Leaf-cup along road (out towards marsh/Bay) again loaded with pollinators.

Our own garden has been scary quiet, despite loads of nectar. So it was a treat to find this Sweet Pepperbush in full bloom at the beginning of Songbird Trail and full of hairstreaks (some flowers / photo frame with 5+ on it) and other pollinators! Sorry to get this up a few days late, so glad Dave A. saw them the next day.

[Double digit counts of juniper hairstreak are very unusual. We have had three this year – two from this spot, as Pat notes, and another from Steve G at Manumuskin River Preserve, CUM, on 7-7-18. We had no double digit counts of this species in 2017 or in 2016. jc]

Obs. made between 10:24 & 11:04, Part sun and 83 degrees. Hotspot here was a small patch of Mountain mint at the entry to the garden.

Jim Trainer and I made an annual bug trip to LT. It was hot!
Some bugs did not mind the heat. It was great to find a Common Buckeye and a big variety of dragonflies! Watched a Red-spotted egg laying eggs on Black Cherry leaves.

Only spent a half hour here to see if Dions were still flying. Found at least two and several App Browns. Obs. made between 2:21 & 2:51

Sunny, windy and 84 degrees 4:14 to 5:04 p.m. A fresh Common Checkered Skipper appeared briefly. My only Sachems came here today on white clover.

10:15-12:30, humid, some clouds. Finished our walk before the storm hit. Hummingbird clearwing in the garden as well as hummingbird coming to cardinal flower. Spicebush, Red Admiral, Silver-spotted skippers, N. Broken Dash, Sachem, BW Skippers, Pecks, Delaware, Zabulons, & Monarch in the garden.

Abundant Sweet Pepperbush this year. Waited briefly as storm system moved N-NE just missing the middle twp bike path area. Strong winds cut down on some activity. Obs. made between 12:51 & 1:47.

Got a glimpse of an Anglewing.

Began today's search at TNC's property in Eldora. Much of today's activity was just across the street on Sweet pepperbush. Obs. made from 9:12 to 10:12 with part sun, 80 degrees and a stiff wind. Butterflies were not the only insects occupying the pepperbush. Found four Wheel bugs patiently waiting. 6 Monarch cats were on Asclepias tuberosa.

Sweet Pepperbush at edge of parking area was loaded with Juniper Hairstreaks. Wind made photography a challenge. butterflies had little problem hanging on. Obs. made between 11:13 & 12:30. At 12:30 western skies showed an approaching storm. Time to head east!

Went in about half way. Very little activity.

You just have to report something from a road named Yock Wock! Saw some activity as I prepared to head for home at this cornfield edge. Cloudy at this point but nice Sootywing action.

5:30 p.m. Clear after heavy rain shower. Ovipositing on Common Milkweed. Kept distance, observed with binos.

During public butterfly program, 1-3pm, Smith's Woods side. No caterpillars observed today in garden.

Some nice action here today with multiple Swallowtails flying at once. First Hackberry Emperor of year for this garden.

[This is our first mourning cloak report since May 1 (C. Herz, Wheelabrator, GLO). The first of the new brood that will over-winter 2018-19? jc]

5:51-6:18pm
Sunny and less humid 88f.
garden only…Got the Question Mark as I was leaving by the pavilion.

Obs. made from 1:55 to 4:22 p.m. Very uncomfortable level of humidity. 40-60% cloud cover and high 80's. Ten sp. observed in the garden today. Always some surprises while butterflying. No Viceroys today, very unusual at this time here to miss. Also compared to recent reports of anglewings only two Commas to be found this day. Heavy downpours and strong winds yesterday may have thinned some out. Another fresh C.Checkered Skipper today, this time in Glouco. Chiggers horrible here, be prepared!!