May 2020 Sightings

I did not view the Summer Azure as well as I would have liked as it kept burying itself in the foliage of Silky Dogwood. I wanted to see if it was indeed ovipositing on this shrub which this species uses almost exclusively in my yard.
FOY Red-banded Hairstreak and a pretty ragged M. Cloak that has been alive since last fall.

[Good find! Our FOY summer azure. jc]

In a field of Rumex acetosella and Barbarea vulgaris. There were at least 100 of them, all nectaring on the B. vulgaris.

[KG also has a video to confirm this sudden eruption of coppers. jc]

Incidental sighting while working in the yard.

1 et blue came out after the passing shower to dry its wings. 9:40am

This park is closed for construction. Access is strictly for park staff only.

Briskly flitting from plant to plant never stopping.

[Our first monarch since the wild stray on March 9. Nice find! jc]

Obs.made from 1:45 to 4:15, mostly sunny windy and 71.

This is a area of young Cedars in the middle of a mature grove. Most of the Butterflies were in the thick Cedars and almost impossible to get a picture of. I walked the grove for almost 2 hours before finding one on a flower. The count is conservative.

[Congrats to Brian for his finds. This is the most Hessel's the log has seen reported from one location in many years. -jm]

11:30-1:30
Tiger swallowtail was the black form.

A section of the state forest on the east side of Rt. 9. Sightings were between 10 - 11 am.

Monarch

Took a leisurely walk from 11:30 to 1:40 pm. Beautiful sunny weather. Hoary Elfins were common and conspicuous. Two Common Ravens were a bonus.

[Good to see this colony of hoary elfins is thriving. -jm]

Late afternoon, sunny and 70 degrees

Dark form —just emerged. Ran to get camera but gone.

A beautiful Spring day in the yard!

Morning visit for birding. Sunny, 57 degrees.

1:15-2:40
Sightings from sitting in my backyard

2:50 to 3:10 pm. I checked another area for Hoary Elfin. This location requires some thinning of trees to allow more sunlight for bearberry, the host plant.

10-12pm — 62 degrees but windy.Hoary elfin count conservative. Road conditions to drive further in were bad.

Stopped here around 4:00 on my drive home because I saw blueberries blooming in front of a lovely cedar stand. I got a brief look at the Hessel's before the bug flew off.

2:05 to 2:40 pm. Was pleased to find Hoary Elfins at a location I've been wanting to check.

70 degrees and sunny in late afternoon