June 2021 Sightings

Photos: Question Mark, Silver-spotted Skipper and Zabulon. First Monarch I've seen at Lumberton Leas this year.

Nice variety today. Skipper season is here!

[Good finds – including log FOYs, dun and Delaware. Interesting that the Delaware skipper appears on an early date (May 29th our all-time earliest) yet looks fairly worn. jc]

A big emergence today of a new brood of Cabbage Whites.

This fresh Delaware skipper joined the worn one from yesterday. As Sootywings are wont to do, today’s led me on a wild goose chase as I tried in vain for a photo.

[Keep chasing that elusive skipper, D.A. This is our first sootywing report in several weeks – since three in early May – and no one yet has managed a photo. jc]

Early afternoon. First stop of 3 on a "now that Steve Glynn is not here, somebody has to do it tour." This field looks good, but I only surveyed it from the road as it is a bit early for checkered white. I can hardly imagine how many variegated frits must have been in the field judging from the small area I surveyed. Surprisingly, there were few species present.

3rd stop on the tour. This Euro sk colony is doing fine. Few people on our log have reported this bug for the past few years. I am including a handful of photos in hopes that people may feel more confident about seeking them out and appreciating this cool bug.

[… and our log's FOY of this puzzling skipper. jc]

10:30- 12. Sun and clouds. I have not come to this location to look for dusted sk in June. Although some of the dusted could go by "clear-winged dusted," many of them were in pretty good shape. This place was loaded with crossline, tawny-edged and swarthy, and honestly, identifying the crosslines and tawny-edged made my head spin, so I hope the photos can help others. There was no way to get and accurate count of these buzzing sk's; therefore, all counts are conservative.

[Thank you for the good shots of those tough IDs! jc]

Late in the day basking in sun. Two early install Question mark butterflies on hackberry sapling.

The area that hosted the sleepy orange colony has been completely plowed. However, some senna remains uncut along the back edge and new senna sprouts are rising from the mowed area. My guess is that sleepys will be seen here this year. The good news from this stop is that I did not have to consider stepping out from my car into deer fly city.

1:50pm. Cloudy and very humid

Question Mark was chasing Mourning Cloak around the fruit dish.

Like living in "Groundhog Day". Same butterfly species and numbers appear day after day.

Two Oak Hairstreaks. One alive, one being eaten by a spider, both on dogbane. A few scattered white oaks along the edge of the landfill but otherwise a highly developed area.

[A superb find of this elusive species! These are the first oak hairstreaks reported to our log since 2019 when two were reported in June in CMY, after a five-year period of no reports. These are also the first reports of the species in BUR since June of 2010, eleven years ago. Good work, DM! jc]

Early stage spotted lanternfly nymphs abundant. Finding them frequently on Common milkweed. Photographed a number of them on Virginia Creeper.

Incidental sightings while in the yard this afternoon.

Despite egg laying by a female Monarch on Common Milkweed in early May, these were my first caterpillars spotted (3: 1 big and 2 small).

Obs. made from 3:40 to 4:45. Deer flies out in full force.

Was only out in the morning and evening because of the heat but in the early evening noticed the Spring Azure on the New Jersey Tea that is just about ready to flower.

Aaron's skipper the least numerous of the "salt-marshy" skippers in our yard. This only the fourth we have found here in last ten years.

10am-2pm sunny at 85 degrees

Ventured into this area, although recent activity by 4x4 trucks mudding the area have gouged the bog area, creating deep, soft wet areas that leave foot travel dangerous. I sank into thigh depth, when I thought I was planted on a good, firm spot. Ended any further searching, beyond the very edge of the area.

Tough area now to navigate. The other trail area is heavily overgrown and always a huge tick area.

Logic suggests a trip to Franklin Parker might be smarter and easier for Bog Coppers going forward.

Hot and humid, but active at this spot and along the powerline.

[Thanks for the alert, Steve, and for the report, including our FOY bog coppers. Be careful out there, everyone! jc]

Summery!!

[Good to see our log's FOY's glassywing for 2021. jc]

2 to 5 pm. Sunny, hot, temps in the low 90s.

[Two remarkable finds: our log's FOY Georgia satyr on the earliest we have ever recorded (breaking old date of June 8 (2018); and the first dusted skipper reported in BUR since May 2009, twelve years ago.
Good work, Tom! jc]

My go to spot for Hayhurst's Scallopwing and was not disappointed today with 7+. Males and Females in mint condition.

[Nice! Our log's FOY Hayhurst's for 2021. jc]

In wet areas of garden, frequent sightings of low-flying azures in the past two weeks. Many huge holly trees here, also Inkberry.

Obs. made from 1:30 to 3:30.

My "favorite patch" isn't looking so good this year. Deer have taken over the plot for their sleeping, and the milkweed is sparse this season. Time will tell, but activity was pretty low at my mid-afternoon search.

Euro-skipper colony still present, but numbers very modest.