October 2020 Sightings

A short impromptu walk led me to a patch of white snakeroot and a White M hairstreak surprise! This was the first documentation of this species at Long Bridge Park.

[Congrats to Jen for finding the first White M at Long Bridge Park. Nice to see the late rally of White M's move outside of the Cape area. - jm]

Brazilian Skipper chrysalis looking dark, as if it will emerge soon.

Full sun and upper 70's brought this place back to life. Most of the monarchs were mint fresh and most likely eclosed from here (There are still many chrysalises present). Of interest today was a reinforcing blast of fresh buckeyes that were in great contrast to the fading rag veterans. Almost all of the new arrivals were rosa form of which I had none until this batch of migrants arrived. I chased this almost tail-less ETB thinking it was an azure. Ah, the rags of fall.

Utility company butchered a wide swath of foliage along the powerlines adjacent to the MT Bike Path, reducing habitat for the butterflies. However, the Zinnia garden is still blooming nicely. My FOY Fiery Sk.

A survey while mowing – not a recommended methodology. Good to see a PVST making it into October, looked fresh as well.

[This is the third year in a row that the Connors have found pipevine st in their yard in October. It has been a poor year for PV with reports only coming from three locations: Connors, with multiple reports beginning on 7/26 (ATL), one from Chris Herz on 8/9 (CAM) and one from Dave Amadio on 8/28 (GLO). - jm]

Can't ever see too many Long-tailed Skippers. And my garden helper joined the Monarchs in the yard today!

[Happy to see Harvey's monarch eclose. See his report from 9/27. -jm]

Windy with butterflies cling to the plants. Cool and cloudy

Incidental sightings as I was birding in the park today. Cloudy all morning with partly sunny skies beginning just after noon. High mid-60s. All sightings were during the afternoon.

Sun out around noon, temp moved into mid/high-60s. Survey ~2:30-3:30 pm. Monarchs all fresh; at least two monarch chrysalids yet to open.

[Good to see the pipevine st again. We will see, but the pipevine looks a bit weary to challenge our LOY date that goes all the way back to 10/26/11. -jm]

Got lucky on the Comma. Landed right next to me and posed.

An epic songbird migration at Higbee and surrounds probably accounts for the almost total lack of butterflies seen today. I did manage a White M

Reporting only species seen here today but not yesterday.

Headed South for Cape May later than I usually do, but well timed for two Long Tailed Skippers in Beth's magical garden. Both were complete with both tails, one very fresh looking. With the exception of Long Tailed, Brazilian, & Ocola I did not count quantities, but all species were found in multiples. Obs' made from 1:15 to 2:45 with sunny skies and 64 degrees. Long Tails always have a way of making your day! Thanks Beth!

Butterflies were very sparse (though unable to spend much time in the yard today). Did see another Sleepy Orange cat on the senna.

Sunny and 60's. I went behind my back fence which added a handful of cabbages, etb's, pc's and rbhs'. The frit, judging from its darkness, is probably a female. As Harvey reported on 10/2, "can't ever see enough LT sk's." 23 species here so far in October.

Obs. made from 3:20 to 3:45. Sunny and 64. A much better day for birds than butterflies at the Point. Trees & shrubs were dripping with warblers. Butterflies were scarce.

Observation from roadside of a private garden with abundant Lantana. Was told by a Monarch tagger that she had seen a Long Tailed Skipper along Harverd Ave earlier in the day..

checked out the purple butterfly bushes here. Turned up a worn Viceroy.

Cool but sunny all day. This afternoon Dave and Pat Amadio visited and found 2 Long-tailed skippers in the front yard. Est Sachem count. Greater than 15 black Swallowtail cats in various stages. 7 Spicebush Swallowtails in various stages. Still a few Monarch cats here but also 8 Monarch chrysalises. Also still have Brazilian Skippers nests and chrysalises

Not much here at 3:50 p.m.

While birding the wildlife drive from 2-4pm. I am sure there were many more species on the goldenrod that I didn't see while driving by.