Butterfly sightings for June 2014

Many Six-spotted Tiger Beetles were also present.

Also four Ladies that did not stop to allow definite ID.

Late afternoon, showers are moving in, periodic bursts followed by periods of sunny skies. Six butterflies on site #1.

Showers still interspersed, with periods of sunny skies. Fields are wet, and the Eastern Tailed blues are out, about 13 of them spotted.

Partly cloudy. 87 F. S wind 18 mph. Monarch was laying eggs on milkweed.

First swallowtail sighting of the year. Fluttered above me on morning walk with the dog.

Surprised to see my first Viceroy of the year.

Most of these were seen along Twin Valley Rd. while on a Madison Audubon field trip

I was looking for Monarchs today. I didn't see any adults but did collect 4 cats and one egg to rear indoors. I saw my first Swallowtails of the season.
And, the Dickcissels were singing.

There were many of these butterflies and I did see one Monarch but it would not settle down for a photo. Many dragonFlies were seen as well.

Monarchs yippeeeee

Eau Claire proper had a steady rain yesterday, just over an inch fell up here on Mt. Simon......today the Milkweed plants literally shot up about a foot from under the ground, the Milkweeds were not visible, not out of the ground and I had wondered whether they would be coming up.....but the soaking rain brought them up and out for all to see........on cue then about 10:00 a.m. a Monarch Butterfly shows up all happy and sassy, flitting here and there between plants and the whole neighborhood....we were finally able to get some pictures....one on the Milkweed which is their favorite and another just being here and happy!!!! makes two of us, glad he made the trip and hope many more start to show up now....... sighted on May 28th 2014 about 10:00 am...

One Spring Azure was left unidentified to either "Spring" or "Summer" subspecies due to a very short viewing time.

Last evening I saw my FOY Summer Azure, on ninebark, as usual.

Lupine in bloom at both Fish Lake and Crex. Heavy rains on Sunday killed many of the butterflies that were out then? Saw only one WTB and 2 "Tiger" Swallowtails at Fish Lake. Saw first Gorgone at Crex, plus a couple undetermined blues, and finally the Dreamy (judging by the long palpi) Duskywing. Slim pickin's, in 30mph winds.

After a brief thunder shower,the sun came out. Spotted a Black Swallowtail and a "Spring" Azure flitting around in the flowery shrubs.

I have started a "Monarch Waystation" this year and have much wild Phlox growing and this is what this beautiful Swallowtail was one when the photo was taken.

78° and Sunny. 20 minutes to check for 1st Karner Blues.

76° and Sunny. All 3 swallowtails in less than 10 minutes!

75 degrees and sunny. Nice to get out with binoculars and look at (and for) butterflies! Note the white eyebrows on the Dusted Skipper! Note the extremely long palps of the Dreamy Duskywing.

Plus one unidentified blue. The only photo opportunities were a pair of dragonflies mating and a robin taking a bath in one of the many huge puddles after the heavy rains.

Also saw a flying blue butterfly but unable to id. The Waved Sphinx is the first sphinx moth of the season for me!

Looked for Karner Blues at several lupine patches with no luck.

While inspecting the condition of newly planted trees & shrubs from last fall, the following lepidopteran species were observed this AM: 8:30 - 10:30. Six species and thirteen sightings! Including two Chickweed Geometers

Partly sunny, 71 degrees, winds gusting to 18-20 mph

This afternoon between 1:00 & 4:00 Pm we observed the following butterfly species on the property along the lake front. Eight different species and and thirty seven sightings!

Have never seen Silvery Blues in Marathon Co. but I found 4 of them at Mission Lake this afternoon.

Also found a One-eyed Sphinx moth by my deck.

Today I found two very tiny Black Swallowtail caterpillars on a parsley plant. The caterpillars are currently less that one-quarter inch long.

Came here to look for Karner Blues but they weren't flying yet, although the wild lupine was abundant and in full bloom! Sunny, warm (70), windy. Also found a rare (for this area) Hooded Warbler.

Also saw unidentified fritillary, sulphur, and 4 blues.

79° Mostly Sunny. 3-5 PM. There was still time to find butterflies after having to run to Rhinelander to change out the alternator. Chryxus Arctics were right where Ann & Scott Swengel saw them on May 31. Thanks. One J. Duskywing (pictured) was larger then the 3 Meadow Frits that were with it. Caught 1 with my hands to bring back to the truck so Doreen could see it. Frit on Doreens finger was injured along the road. Both released unharmed

Leaving the trail after running, I saw a swallowtail fly above me and disappear behind a huge mulch pile, below to a field of phlox. At first, I just assumed it must be an eastern tiger but I climbed the mulch pile to investigate and I am so glad I did. It was clear and easy to see that it was a Giant Swallowtail, landing from flower to flower. I wish I would have had my good camera. So large and beautiful!

Three bogs in Black Creek SNA area and one near Clam Lake. 4:10-5:40 pm, 72-77 degrees F, 30% sunshine, wind southwest 4-12 mph. We found Frigga Fritillaries at all 3 Black Creek Bogs.

0:24 am to 1:37 pm, 60-77 degrees F, 10% sunshine, wind variable 0-12 mph. There was not enough sunshine for good Red-disked Alpine activity, but at Moose Junction Bog we identified our first ever Red-disked Alpine for that site.

9:20-9:57 am and 2:15 to 3:00 pm, 70-86 degrees F, 50% sunshine, wind southwest 6-12 mph. We found our first Dusted Skippers in Douglas County less than 10 years ago. 44 of the Dusteds were at 4 stops in Douglas County Wildlife Area, especially along the first 1/2 mile of Stuckey Road north of County M.

A very good butterfly morning. I was mostly birding, but also watching and counting butterflies along the way.

65° and mostly sunny. Only drove in 1/4 mile. We were only here 15 minutes. Another lifer.
Goal today was to find 2-3 lifers.

9:45, sunny, so many mosquitoes it was like I was swimming in bugs.

This PM,temperatures in low 70's, mild winds their were 48 sightings including ten different species. My first Viceroy of the season & first Skipper butterfly for this year.

This AM temperatures 65-68 degrees, strong gusty winds along the lake front. Fifteen sightings including only three species: Summer Azures, Pearl Crescents & Eastern Tailed-Blues! 10:45am-12:15pm

9:30, sunny

Not many butterflies but lots of Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle including some purplish/brown individuals. This is the first time I have seen the purple ones in Portage County.

Also saw one Tiger Swallowtail sp.

8:00 to 11:53 am, 67-80 degrees F, 75% sunshine, wind southwest east 2-6 mph. We found Friggas on all 4 bogs where we usually see them. One nectared on Bog Laurel (Kalmia).

Sunny, low winds, 73 @ 9:30. Butterfly numbers remain below average but species seen the last two weeks are typical. Possible Sleepy but unable to photograph. Azure but unable to photograph. Karner unexpected.

Just a lovely day for butterflies and birds. I saw more Viceroys in a few miles travel than I usually see in an entire summer! (There were 5 or 6 more Eastern/Canadian Tiger Swallowtails, in flight. ) The Sandhill Crane is nesting at Hoffman Hills State Rec Area.

We started an informal butterfly watch group at our facility called Threshold's Allies of the Flutterbies (TAF). Today was sunny and warm. We saw our first monarch checking out the milkweed in the 'wild' area bordering the property

Despite low numbers, my best butterflying day of the season. Searched for European Skippers but did not find.

Found this beautiful butterfly in my driveway today.

On an outing with the Wisconsin Wetlands Association staff. Also noted scores of freshly emerged Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonflies.

~1PM, sunny

2-3PM, sunny, 82

mid 70s, sunny, 8:30 - 12

1:05-1:30 pm, 82-85 degrees F, 90% sunshine, wind NW 0-2 mph. Our first ever Frigga Fritillary sighting on this bog, in 15 years of searching for butterflies here.

Kudos to the golf course management staff, who allow abundant milkweed to proliferate in the rough (where I spend a lot of time).

Photographed at my "Monarch Waystation" at my home today.

My "Monarch Waystation" at my home. Feeding on the Wild Phlox.

While looking for the Blue Grosbeaks seen here recently, I noticed quite a few butterflies and dragonflies. The very large, dark butterfly threw me - it was quite iridescent blue on the hingwings above, but didn't seem to have tails, or any yellow spots. It was either a huge Red-spotted Purple, or a dark E. Tiger female with no tails. Oh, and I saw the male Blue Grosbeak!

Took a short hike in late afternoon. Didn't see any butterflies in the prairie area, but spotted a Little Wood Satyr and 2 different skipper species in the wooded area.

I saw my first Black Swallowtail (a male) today trapped in a greenhouse at the garden center. I gently ushered it out to freedom.

Saw both boghaunters today, the latest in the year I have ever seen either species. I watched the ants lug the pupa across the trail for about 5 minutes. They made surprising progress, traveling over a meter.
I also saw a Canadian/Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

Mostly sunny, 80's, breezy at times from S, SE. Dragonflies and damsel flies were out today. Didn't see the monarch today, but found a new egg on the common milkweed. Also saw an unidentified grass skipper and an 8-spotted forester moth.

Spring was so late this year, I saw a "Summer" Spring Azure and I haven't even seen a "Spring" Spring Azure yet.

My first Giant Swallowtail of the year!

2:22-2:34 pm, 78-79 degrees F, 100% sun, wind N 1-2 mph. Jutta Arctics were the only butterflies we saw.

Arrived at 3PM in the afternoon, temperature was 78 degrees, windy: Spent one hr each in three different locations, all had large lupine populations. I guess I am singing the BLUES!!!: Eastern Tailed Blues, Silver Blues & Karner Blues. Seventy-seven sitings. Also 2 Canadian/Eastern Tiger Swallowtails.

First Harvester I've ever seen. Always neat to see a new butterfly. Nessus Sphinx moth liked the lilacs.

My first White Admiral of the season, a very worn Amer. Lady laying eggs and a colorful 8-spotted Forester moth. Also a few Tiger Swallowtail sp. in flight.

The Blues were very tiny the size of my pinky finger nail.

I think the cowbird egg was in a Chipping Sparrow nest. By the looks of things, a Coopers Hawk got the sparrow. I'll go back and check the nest for more eggs another day to see if I am right.

Few butterflies were sighted on flowers, most were on damp sand of road. Twelve Mottled, and no Juvenal's, Duskywings. Elfins done, blues very scarce. Gorgones abundant. Eighteen people enjoyed butterflying at about a dozens stops at various habitats. Lovely weather. 19 species seen. "Eastern?" tiger swallowtails only seen in flight. Crescents not ID'd to species.

A beautiful, sunny day. Still waiting to see a Question Mark! We have a stinging nettle patch by the barn, but didn't see any last year.

3:00-5:00, sunny, low 70s.

76° Sunny. 7 species in the yard. Lots of Hobomocks on the quick trip to the marsh.

Plus one unidentified Lady.

This AM on site by 8:30 with temp about 52, it slowly rose through the morning and by noon we were 68 degrees. 168 sightings today of twelve species. I finally get to photograph Frigga Fritillary saw 9 managed to get photographs of five of them! When I was ready, to leave and get some lunch I Bearly could get down Gates road as it was blocked!

We were monitoring Phlox Moths and Karner Blues. 7:05 to 2:11 pm, 48-81 degrees F, 98% sun, wind NE 2-8 mph. We found 7 Phlox Moths. We saw 17 male and 3 female Karner Blues.

I didn't do a count today but just thought I would report the first Karner sighting of the year for me at Crex.

Little Wood-Satyrs everywhere along the Rustic Road at the west end where it goes from pavement to gravel; most were fluttering through the small oaks along the edge. Not sure which form of Azure I saw.

Clear sunny day, mild winds & hot as we approached noon! Nineteen sightings, five species. One Ebony Jewelwing damsel fly along the Menomonee river.

Sunny, low 70s, 8:30 - 12:40

Went looking for my lifer, Chryxus Arctic along County Road I in Marinette County. Thanks to the Swengel's and Dan Sonnenberg for posting about this location. I only saw 2 of them but I think they're almost done flying now. I also saw what I think is a female Calico Pennant (Dragonfly).

Found a few butterflies on a birding trip. It was very cold at 7am when we started out and I didn't see a butterfly until 10am. Maybe my problem with finding butterflies lately is that I get up too early.

Nature Hill Preserve : Singletons of Pearl Crescent and Silver-spotted Skipper.
Plank Road: Eastern Tailed-Blue .FIRST BLUE OF THE SEASON!!!Several Crescents.

Noticed three of these today. Wooded area, sunning themselves in open area.

2:30-4:45, sunny, mid-70s. The Karner blues were only at Necedah. The rest were in both places, but more were sighted at Meadow Valley than Necedah. The little wood-satyrs were everywhere.

One Persius Duskywing was on damp sand, one on lupine plant. FOY Pink-edge Sulfur, on damp sand. Butterflies much preferring damp sand to nectaring on flowers. Both Karners seen were males.

No milkweed and virtually no nectar sources on this groomed-for-humans golf course. Keep flying, Danny.

Lupine starting to form green seed pods on lower part of flowering stalk. Saw eight "crescents" on damp sand--was too rushed to carefully ID. Ceanothus, phlox, hairy puccoon in full bloom.

My FOY ringlets. I'm hoping they're still here when I do the NABA count in a few weeks.

Also 3 Tiger Swallowtail sp.

I was a camp counselor from the 9th to the 11th.

Sunny, 76, 10:30 - 1:00
I spent about 20 min trying to get a decent photo of one of the common ringlets, then a dragonfly zoomed in and grabbed one of them and sat down for lunch. Right after that another ringlet sat down for a photo.

Most observations just at one road intersection.

While maintaining my prairie fire breaks the Little Wood-Satyrs were everywhere along the woodland edges.

Hot, Gusty wind day with mixed clouds & open sky. Afternoon rains never happened. Thirty-one sittings, ten different species.

European Skipper and Peck's Skipper..first of the year.

I saw it yesterday too, but only got a good look at it today.

Very windy today. I suspect that the upside down Viceroy in the photo had emerged today and was still pumping up it's wings.

Sunny, breezy afternoon. Saw a mourning cloak flying up into the willow thicket and a few minutes later a monarch flew by.

The Northern Cloudywing is a lifer for me.

Both male and female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

Also, three Tiger Swallowtail sp. in flight.

~2PM, sunny, low 70s

Around 7:30pm saw a male monarch and 2 Painted Ladies nectaring on red clover and basking in the late sunshine

7:22 am to 2:25 pm. 53-77 degrees F, 100% sunshine, wind north 2-5 mph. Phlox Moth and Karner Blue monitoring. We found 5 Phlox Moths. Our total Karner count in matched sites from today and June 8 was exactly the same as on June 8 (same for Wood County today and June 8). The little Wood Satyr count of 1310 is not a typo.

Cold start 64 @ 10:30 but sunny. Winds light all day. Estimate temps reached 80 for short window around 2pm.

All butterflies were sighted along a 100 meter stretch of horseback riding trail just north of Sunset Rd.

Sunny and breezy day. The butterflies were not cooperating for photos, but the forester moth did.

The Great Spangled Fritillary was in a hay field we don't cut until sometime in July.

Visited area this Saturday afternoon from 1PM to 5:30 PM. Forty-two Sittings for Nine different species of butterflies. Swallowtails did not co-operate with the photography!

Hot, Sunny & Gusty wind day, visited area from 10:00am till noon on Saturday. Thirty-nine Sittings, Five species. One Eight-spotted Forester!

Noon to 2pm, 66F and Sunny.

13:57 - 16:10. 0.9 miles sunny, 80 F. wind 15 - 16 mph S. Also saw a hummingbird clearwing moth nectaring on Monarda.

One Eastern Tiger was a black-form female.

The best day for butterflies for me this season.

My FOY red admiral.

We saw these while driving through.

Saw 2 flying male Eastern Pondhawks (dragonflies) leap-frogging over each other several times as part of their ritualized settling of territorial disputes. (We should all follow this example.)

The Sulphur in the photo is Orange Sulphur.

A 55 min. walk down Nahley Rd to the Blue River and back. 2:25 PM.

Red-spotted Purple

The Medford area Chequamegon Bird Club had their annual picnic at the Chaplinski farm. The Chaplinski farm was honored with the 2003 WI Conservation Farmer of the Year Award. Would have seen more butterflies but it turned cloudy. Many Familiar Bluet damselflies and Common Whitetail dragonflies in the area.

Also found a Jade Clubtail and Cobra Clubtail (dragonflies).

Seen while running the trails; most were puddling.

Virtually no nectar sources on this manicured course.

Very warm and humid, brief thunder storms. Saw the male monarch twice. Around 8 pm it was fluttering about the clump of aspen. The 2 red admirals were flitting around the porch. Also saw a grass skipper sp.

Morning temperature high sixties, air stagnant & muggy, PM low seventies, winds off of lake pick up in afternoon, become gusty! Ninty-seven sightings on approximately sixteen acres, thirteen different species. The Swallowtails would not cooperate for photos!

On bog on Hwy 70 east of Forest Road 137 and one bog along Forest Road 137. 4:46 to 5:24 pm, 67-71 degrees F, 0% sunshine, wind southeast 5-10 mph.

My first E Tailed Blue of the season. Found one Great Spangled Fritillary caterpillar.

10:59 to 11:24 am, 62 to 59 degrees F, 0% sunshine, wind south 1-35 mph. The weather was shutting down as we arrived.

It was around midday, and we sighted the butterfly along a hiking trail.

A giant Swallowtail was hovering by my front step and seemed determined to stay there. He seemed curious when he saw me, and stayed for about 10 minutes before flying off. I have multiple photos and a short video clip.

These were all seen after 6 pm.

Cloudy, high humidity, 72 @ 9:30. Clouds broke around 1pm and activity became amazing. Wet roads were pulling in butterflies, not just in fav mineraling spots but pretty much every piece of dirt road. Checkerspots impossible to count. Oranges beat up, must have flown in.

10:30 - 1:45, low 80s, sunny

~4:15, low 80s humid, sunny

I was excited to see the Baltimore Checkerspot. I haven't seen them in recent years. Also 3 Tiger Swallowtail sp., 1 white sp. and a Clearwing moth.

First frits of the year for me.

We've had a lot of rain this week! The butterflies came out during a brief period of sunshine. The monarch wouldn't land so I tried to capture it flying.

1:45 - 3:40, low 80s, very humid, sunny. Hackberry emperors were everywhere. They swarmed me when I got out of my car. Many were very friendly, landing on me and staying for a while. A couple of them, along with a couple of commas were brazenly licking my sweat. Gives new meaning to butterfly kisses. I saw three white butterflies that I couldn't get close to.

I seldom get two days in a row. Cool late start 65 @ 11am Did not complete a full count rather focused on specific points. Roads dried significantly and not pulling in as many butterflies.
Probable Eastern Tiger ST. based on large size; wouldnt stop for photo. Dreamy and Am Lady in same location as 6/20 and likely the same butterfly's.