Butterfly sightings for May 2007

Both yesterday and today i saw the meadow fritillaries late in the afternoon.

First of the year.

I was shocked to find two Olympia Marbles at Woodman and Millville is really buzzing. The first DNR trail on HWY C west of HWY 133 that goes up to the mile high prairie was just full of butterflies. Two of the three Swallowtails were black females.

The four were chasing each other above my garden and around the trees, usually staying within 1-2 feet of each other, and about 10-20 feet above ground. Ocassionally one or two would break off and land for a moment or two.

Henry's Elfins in the same spot as last year plus one additional individual across the road near cabin!

Red adminrals commonly spotted. Saw 3 to 4 Mourning Cloaks along path at Lake Farm Park that goes through the woods on the west end of the park.

There they were. Tryed out our new digital SLR.

The elfins were basking on the road.

Rather scruffy individual

The Grass Skippers are back!

A quick stop at the Arb. My first Pearl Crescents of the year.

Bird's foot violet and shooting stars are blooming.

First Gorgone Checkerspots of the year!

12 Boloria fritillaries and some unidentified duskywings.
IDS are unknown at this time pending review of the photos.

Monarch was fairly fresh

45 minutes on the way home.

Ice on the bog at 9:30!

Gorgone Checkerspots galore!

A very successful first ever field trip of SWBA. Gorgone Checkerspots were abundant with at least 5 mated pairs noted. Sun in the morning gave way to a short period of rain before the sun and butterflies were back. First Karners of the year!

More photos from the SWBA field trip

Wisconsin Frigga Fritillaries look somewhat different from illustrations in Glassberg and Kaufman. HW costal spot need not be solid white. Thin white crescent in middle of HW. Violet coloration on underside of HW is reduced. Photo is poor but shows the patterns.

Found 1 Monarch egg on Common Milkweed.

West of Prairie du Sac.

Also four Spangled Skimmers!

Stopped and checked for my first Pepper and Salt, Arctic, and Hobomok Skippers of the year.

Made a short visit to this park just west of Fort Atkinson. The crescents and Red-spotted Purple were puddling together on wet mud. Also many Dot-tailed Whitefaces and 26 Am. White Pelicans.

Cloudy and cool with scattered rain.

Cloudy and cool with scattered rain.

Two Spangled Skimmers were also found on the hill by the DNR Pier.

Also saw an eight-spotted forester.

Very windy, mostly cloudy, and temps in the low 60s.

Several red admirals lit on my lilac tree

Cloudy and breezy with very brief periods of sunshine.
Also saw a Whooping Crane.

I also saw Harris' Checkerspot or Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillars feeding on a nontypical hostplant for these species. I also saw four mated pairs of this robber fly and what I have always felt was my favorite Wisconsin wild flower, Gay-wings (Polygala paucifolia).

In a clearing in my wooded back yard. 1 would fly up, then land in exactly the same spot. He did this several times in the course of an hr. Another came by and then a chase would ensue. Very interesting

Found two mating pairs of Karners!