December 2021 Sightings

Still waiting for our First killing Frost…not with bated breath mind you…..

Incidental sightings while birding in the park today. Mostly sunny & temperature about 47 degrees.

Observations from hawkwatch platform; temps around 50ºF with moderate NW winds. Red Admiral flushed from sunny part of platform when I arrived, followed by 2 more flying west during late AM. Single Monarch flew s/se over Bunker Pond at 12:29.

[This report continues our now-11-year streak of at least one monarch in December on our log. Like this one, they are found most often in and around Cape May Point, apparently aiming to cross the Bay from there and "hoping" to make it to Mexico (or maybe Florida?) jc]

Sunny, 52 with 5 mph NE winds.

Both flew by.

A very Large Monarch headed south along the Delaware Bayshore

Around 1pm - 62 degrees

Observations made 11:00 to 12:00. Temperature in the 40's with variable winds 5- 12 and full sun.

[That's the highest count of buckeyes we have had since 11/18/21. jc]

Red Admiral northbound at 10:59 (spotted by Clay Sutton), with the same or another southbound a couple minutes later; another arrived from ocean and continued south at 12:58. Sunny, 50ºF, winds WSW 10-15mph.

Observations made 12:20- 1:40. 50 degrees, light winds and full sun. We jumped the sachem and watched it for about 30 seconds, turned to each other amazed, and never saw it again despite a long search. No doubt luck plays a major role in this pursuit. A hummingbird and a green darner were also seen.

[That breaks a very old record for latest sachem, set 12-4-2011. Good find! jc.]

Monarch flew east then south along beachfront at 12:50. Sunny, 53ºF, winds N 10-15mph.

Cabbage White spent most of the afternoon in the garden feeding on the Greggii.

Oddly the sightings were earlier in the morning. Pictures just didn't happen.

[This is the first report of mourning cloak in more than a month – 11/11/21. Good find! jc]

Sighting around 12:30 PM when it was sunny, 65 degrees, with a SW wind. I was surprised to see this species which flew through the yard over the Partridge Pea remnants. Shattered my previous late record of Nov. 22.

[This report also breaks our log's previous all-time LOY – Dec 14, 2015. Good find! jc]

38 degrees after a night in the mid 20's.

[Whew! That's one cool lep! Can it survive another week to match our record LOY of 12/27/15? jc]

Sunny and mid 50's. Jack and I made a brief visit here during lunch while participating in the Belleplain Christmas Bird Count.

[Good finds of late-flying sulphurs! jc]

1 monarch flying directly over the parking lot around 12:30 pm. 53 degrees and sunny.

[Good find! This is the northernmost-most monarch we have had reported since November 1st. jc]

[UPDATE, 1-2-22] This and the sightings below by the two Jacks were the last reports for 2021, our 13th year of the Sightings Log. Congratulations to all three observers and thanks to all of you out there who contributed your reports this year.

And Happy New Year to all! jc]