May 2022 Sightings

10:45 am to 2:10 pm. Partly sunny early then mostly cloudy when finished. Breezy with a brief rain shower @1:30. Temps in low 70s.

Sunny and warm, around noon. Red Spotted Purple was flying through wooded area.

Observation: 12.30-14.00

R-S Purple joined Question Mark on fruit dish.

[Congratulations, DA on our first backyard "Swallowtail Sweep" of 2022 (all three of our regular s'tails in one garden on one day). jc]

Quick morning walk

3:30-5:30 sunny and hot. Possibly 1 black swallowtail as well. Some wildflowers blooming in the meadows but most activity was in the forested areas.

Monarch tasting c. Milkweed and black ST around fennel.

Observation: 1.00-2.30
High counts of Cabbage White.
My first sighting of a Monarch this year.

[Our log's 3rd painted lady for 2022 and the first outside CMY. jc]

Late morning biking, sunny

Walk between 10-11:30 with Pat Sutton

2 newborn Monarch caterpillars ("just hatched") on Common Milkweed. Sizable American Lady caterpillar on Field Pussy Toes.

[Our first photo'd monarch cat of 2022 – presumably "Generation 2," grandchild of Mexican over-winterers. jc]

Zabulon a female.

[Congratulations to Chris on our log's second "Swallowtail Sweep" of 2022 – all three regular swallowtails in one yard on one day. jc]

[Our first crossline skipper of 2022. This report and Dolores Amesbury's Aaron's gives us 55 species for 2022 as we head into June – with one last day in May. Can we add another FOY today? jc]

Also had a swallowtail briefly, likely spicebush.

Late morning walk. Sunny & hot.

Observation: 9.15-10.45

No swallowtails today!

[But our log's FOY Aaron's skipper for 2022. Good find! jc]

9:00-10:30am