May 2022 Sightings

This list is of species that were not on the list from 4/30. It was only 1 day ago that I saw my first cobweb here, so it was interesting to follow this female and see her ovipositing on what I believe is little bluestem at 10:30.

[Very cool find and photos documenting cobweb ovipositing! jc]

Mourning Cloak was a lifer!

More birds than 'flies. Garden has been planted and some red honeysuckle was just about to bloom. Missed some most-likely hairstreaks that were not cooperative.

Section of the state forest on the east side of Rt. 9. Incidental sightings while walking out after a morning of birding.

[Our 2nd report of red-banded for 2022. jc]

12:30 to 1:50 pm. Sunny.

Early to late afternoon, just as the sun was coming out and it was warming up. We just missed one that we agreed looked like a fritillary, but it was moving too fast for a photo. Brightest American Lady I've seen this year.

I don’t think I have ever seen the Silver-spotted skipper this early before but I had found a few of the larvae on black locust saplings in the yard last fall so they probably are now starting to emerge.

[We have had only one other report of silver-spotted so far in 2022: April 15 by Kathy Horn in CMY. jc]

Incidental sightings while birding in the am.

1-4 pm, fun to see a male and female Juvenal's.

Overcast afternoon, but when the sun came out the butterflies were very active, then completely disappeared as the clouds gathered again.

[Only our third red-banded hairstreak report for 2022 – and the first anywhere north of CMY. jc]

5:15, sunny, 63 degrees. American Lady was nectaring on Fleabane.

Butterflies seen from 10-11:30am. My FOY tiger swallowtail, eastern tailed blues, and checkered skipper.

[Our log's first common checkered skipper of 2022. Good find. jc]

Obs. made between 1:10 & 3:45, mostly sunny and temps near 70. What a difference a year makes! Last year this area was dismal with a severely mowed down powerline and mostly flooded habitats. fortunately the Frosted Elfin colony persists. It's Baptisia host is evident as well. Orangetip was a female.

[This is only our 4th report of spicebush for 2022 and our first north of CMY. jc]

Early afternoon visit. 70 degrees and mostly sunny.

[Our log's first southern cloudywing of 2022 and, even better and more important, the highest count of cobweb skipper for many years, that I remember, at least. Might be our highest ever. Need to do some checking back! jc]

[Update, 5-7-22: Yes, this is the highest count of cobweb skippers ever recorded on our SJBP log, 2008-2022. The previous high was 21 found along the Dennisville RR tracks on 5-21-2009 by Will Kerling, "5 females, 16 males / all very worn." We have had very few other double-digit counts of this species over the years. The most recent of those are 12 found along Estell Manor Road in CUM on 5-2-2021 by Jack Miller and 11 found on the RT 83 powerline in CMY on 5-14-2020 by Steve Glynn, Harvey Tomlinson, and Ernie Hahn. Can we hope this high count hints at a possible good year for cobweb skipper, which has seemed a troubled species in our area in recent years? jc]

Hairstreak was liking the white azalea blossoms.

11:40 - 2:00 warm with sun and clouds. hoary elfins were very active! most duskywings were flying so few positive ids.

Obs. made from 8 a.m. to 11:40, Cloudy and 60. First butterfly of the morning was at 9:20. Kicked up an Eastern Tiger not wanting to take flight as temps were too low. Most azures showed considerable scale wear. Did not spend much time looking close at the azures today.

Obs. made between Noon & 1 p.m. with a follow up visit from 4-5 p.m. At noon clouds began to move out but was quite windy, temps in low 60's. With warmer and calmer conditions I returned on my way home. I was about 5 min. from leaving when a Cobweb Skipper appeared at the edge of the powerline. A nice end to a productive afternoon.

Late afternoon, sunny. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail flew through back yard on a gust of wind.

Incidental sighting while working in the yard in mid-afternoon.

Sunny, 60’s with gusty winds!

1:50 to 3:10 pm. Sunny, very windy. Temps @70 degrees.

In spite of high winds, these tough butterflies were hanging in and trying to stay in the sheltered areas.

3:30 to 4:40 pm. Sunny to start and then clouded up. Windy. 67 degrees when finished.

Rt. 70 powerline cut northeast of Spring Lake Blvd / Rattler Rd. 10:30 am to 1:20 pm. Sunny, very windy with east winds @10-15 mph. 68 degrees when finished. Duskywing sp. were fly-bys. Photo of a female Cobweb Skipper.

[Quite a list – especially given the day's winds – including our first cobweb report for BUR in more than five years and only our second holly azure anywhere in South Jersey in 2022. Good work, Tom! jc]