Butterfly sightings for April 2008

At last!

I was out working in the yard this afternoon and saw a shadow flittering by and looked up and there was a mourning cloak stopping to say hello.

It was so nice to see butterflies - the first ones I've seen this year. This is the time of year we see lots of Infants - that little day flying orange and brown moth. They flutter around like butterflies, but it's nice to see some real butterflies too.

This is probably the same mourning cloak that I reported seeing last week. It was in the same location.

There is still a lot of snow in the woods, including near the butterflies.

Finally, after 3 weekends of hiking in the woods.

My first butterflies of the year, despite 12-20 inches of snow left. All the butterflies were on a bare dirt road.

I stopped at my favorite spot to look for the first Pasque Flowers of the year. There weren't many but there were a few open at the very top of the hill.

Shown here basking on mulch, it was also seen nectering on spring bulbs.

Hilltopping just outside of town.

I also saw a fast-moving white/sulfur and another unknown butterfly...didn't get a good look.

Not much to nectar on yet...come on Dandelions!

Stopped at historical marker on Hwy 54 and saw the Painted Lady.

Found Splendid and Festive Tiger Beetles at Spring Green.

Festive and Oblique-lined tiger beetles but no new butterflies. We did see a mating pair of Common Green Darners.

Flying up and over and around my house...causing me to run from one side to the other and back again trying to keep it in sight.

Many Mourning Cloaks - I didn't count them.

Also lots of Green Darner dragonflies

I also found only my second site for Cicindela purpurea, the Cow Path Tiger Beetle.

The 3 Ladies were within 20 feet of each other nectaring on Dutchman's Breeches. For anyone that does not know what a Green Darner looks like I've included a photo taken today. Very little Rock Cress for the Olympia Marbles.

I have also been seeing dragonflies at Lake Farm Park near Madison.

Not many spring-like days this year so today brought out many woodland butterflies to the dirt forest roads...

Not a bad day for temps <50 degrees.

Temperature was only in the upper 40's today, but it was sunny. The Brown Elfins spent most of their time basking, except for two which had trouble sharing a sunny spot.