June 2022 Sightings

Late morning, Pipevine Swallowtail was a nice surprise as I didn't realize I had them here! It was attracted to the penstemon digitalis but moving so fast I just barely got a photo. Very worn Azure.

[Our log's first PVST of 2022 – an excellent find! jc]

Most species were attracted to Silky Dogwood which has just come into bloom. FOY Aaron's.

[Congratulations to Cynthia on our log's third single-garden "Swallowtail Sweep" of 2022 – all three of our regular s'tails in one yard in one day. jc]

monarch caterpillar on c. milkweed. Black ST laying eggs on golden alexander, zizia aurea, blooms.

Midday, sunny and warm American Lady nectaring on clover.

Even though butterflying was not the primary directive-geocaching was-I came up with a pretty good list owing to my compatriot’s patience! He was mollified by a flight at nearby Slack Tide brewery!

I walked the powerline cut and downstream in the bogs to the third old dike road. Not many species but it was nice to see numbers of Appalachian Browns. I added a picture of a Straight-lined Argyria. Pretty little Moth.

[Good to see double-digits for our log's newest FOY, Appalachian brown. How often has that happened previously? jc]

Obs: 11.00-12.00
Sunny and Muggy.
Didn’t see a single grass skipper

An overcast calm day in the low 70s. Trying to find other skippers in a sea of Aaron's while constantly swatting the flies away.

[Our log's FOY Delaware skipper for 2022. Today's two FOY skipper finds by Jeanine and Greg up our log's total species count to 59. Our next FOY will be #60 for the year. jc]

1-3 pm, warm, cloudy and almost overcast we didn't expect so many butterflies.

[Good to see Lizard Tail has come through with diversity and good numbers for several of our log observers recently – and here gave JA & GP our log's FOY swarthy skipper for 2022. jc]

During guided walk 9-11am. Torrential rain came down at the beginning, and then it was cloudy for most of the time. Didn't expect any butterflies but by the end around 11am the sun peeked out. Saw these cool golden-backed snipe flies mating too.

2:30-3:30pm
Monarch was a female and sitting on common milkweed leaf, but didn't appear to be ovipositing.

Incidental sighting in mid afternoon while in the yard.

First yard skipper of the year.

Obs. made from 1:45-3:30.

[One of two snout reports today – the first since April 18. Second brood now flying, it seems. jc]

Obs: 2.30-3.45
Zabulons were all couples (4x2)

Mainly birding in the park this morning until noon. Sunny and pleasant. Surprised to not see a swallowtail.

[We had a number of snout reports from late Feb until April 18, but none since until today with this report and Dave Amadio's from Riverwinds. Second brood now flying apparently. jc]

Obs. made from 4:15 -4:30. A short visit to check out the first field.

Obs. made from 3:35-4

A walk around the lake, 10.00-12.00 am

Late morning while gardening

About to explode with nectar. Aaron's Skippers were numerous and in various states of wear. The Butterfly that stole the show was Sleepy Orange ! No pic but a erratic, rapidly flying, tangerine colored butterfly can only be a Sleepy. Decided to see if my GISS meter was calibrated and see if it wasn't too early…so I headed nex to the Glynn Colony at Dix WMA… .

[Will Harvey prove his GISS meter is accurate?? Stay tuned for his next report! jc]

The female swallowtail was ovipositing on some fennel. Sightings are mostly late morning.

Between 1-2pm, along Delaware River Heritage Trail section towards lake.

Spicebush laid an egg on spicebush

8:15 am to 12:45. Sunny. Beautiful day.

[Our first bog coppers and Georgia satyr in 2022 – nice to have them on the list! jc]