Butterfly sightings for May 2015

Warm and mostly sunny. Saw a Cabbage White and Mourning Cloak. Our fist sightings this season.

Upper 60s, early afternoon. Started out sunny, then overcast off and on..

My first swallowtail and duskywing of the year.

Sunny and upper 60s. Late morning.

8:15 - 10:30 Am: A cool chill to the air, Gusty winds, sunny but by 10:30 it had reached 58 degrees. Five sightings for two species. I also had the opportunity to photograph the Clover Looper Day Moth and a Butlers Snake.

Dike 17, West of Brockway Road south of Bauer Road, west of Hunter Haven Road, and north of Hwy 54. 9:38 am to 3:05 pm, 61-74 degrees F, 60% sun, wind west 4-8 mph. We walked 9 miles of survey routes. We had 6 unidentified elfins. Funereal Duskywing was the size of a Juvenal's DW, larger than a Wil Indo DW. It looked like a Wild Indigo DW on the top side but had a conspicuous white fringe along the entire hindwing. I (Scott) saw the topside for > 1 minute from up close, but never a good look at the underside. Ann got a poor view of it from any angle.

I saw several commas patrolling the trail we were on, but only got a definite ID on two. Same with the Mustard Whites (Lifer) and Azures, hard to get an accurate count with them flying constantly up and down the trails. Also had my FOY Hognose Snake.

Note the hint of rose color on the wings of Olympia Marble. Eastern Pine Elfin nectaring on Pussy Toes, Sleepy Duskywing on Bird's Foot Violet. The Whooping Crane was distant.

Brief stop in partially logged good quality jack pine woodland; the area seemed more phenologically advanced than surrounding areas.

More exploration of new sites- this one very promising, but a little early for the more unusual butterflies. Some excellent moth species at night, indicating a good quality site.

This is the "popular puddling area" where Namekagon Trail crosses a fair-sized acid bog. Very dry conditions but a few species puddling. Odd to find NO brown elfins in the bog, yet many of a spring bog moth (Epelis truncataria) that has a similar phenology. Bad year for brown elfins?

Dissapointed to find out the area I wanted to explore was private/closed off but while standing outside my car (pondering the next move) was surprised to find a Henry's Elfin. Very early phenologically, it seemed.

Nice weather but other than silvery blues and olympia marbles butterflies were scarce- no elfins despite concerted effort.

Three bogs along FR 2182 east of Three Lakes between the Military Road and FR 2414, one bog west of 2414, and two other bogs. 1:36 to 5:42 pm, 70-79 degrees F, 70% sunshine, wind SW 5-10 mph. All but two of the Freijas were on a bog north of Wolf Lake; the easiest way to access the good part for Freijas and Red-disked Alpine (should be out by this upcoming weekend but really going strong about mid-May) is to walk north/NE from a paved lot along FR 282 that is west of Wolf Lake, for 0.75-0.8 mile up a gated trail that's an old RR grade. Turn right onto the bog where a snowmobile trail goes east/SE across bog. Snowmobile trail is easiest place to see both Freija and Red-disked Alpine and is easiest way to walk on this bog. Brown Elfin counts are low on these bogs.

12-16 miles east of Fifield; 4 bogs along FR 137, one south of FR 136, and two bogs east of FR 505. 8:34 am to 12:03 pm, 58-74 degrees F, 90% sunshine, wind SW 2-8 mph. Only 3 of the Freijas were on a road (all 1.8-1.9 miles south of 70, on FR 137). This Freija Fritillary count is high for this early in the flight. Ann predicted a high Freija year because it was a dry winter/spring. We believe it is early in the flight because we saw no Red-disked Alpines (RDAs)at 4 sites here that are good for RDAs. We expect RDAs to be on the wing here by this coming weekend. Brown Elfins are low after some high recent years on these bogs.

Festive Tiger Beetles with different markings. My first Big Sand Tiger Beetle of the year.

in flight

Also saw Cicindela scutellaris and tranquebarica.

Lots of wood ticks here today.

I just made a few quick stops today but it looks as if it's finally time to put my macro lens on my camera. The Silvery Blues were found on wolf scat.

Many Cicindela scutellaris and 2 formosa also seen, with an unidentified anglewing and duskywing.

Finally saw my first butterflies of the year! A Cabbage White fluttered by and then a little while later an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Warm and sunny.

Sunny, 75F. 9 mile round-trip bike ride. Five swallowtails were all seen in flight while biking.

There's one area in the park where I find black swallowtails every year. It was good to see these two there today. I got there around 11:30. They were very active, flying from place to place. I decided to wait them out and after about half an hour they decided to pose for pictures.

9 am - 12 pm, mid 60s to high 70s, partial cloudy to full sun. Most of the Butterflies were seen on the West (Pearl Road) Section. And FOY Big Sand Tiger Beetle.

80° Partly Sunny. Today was an "Eastern Day". One ETS was black form. Juniper Hairstreak flew way up in a tree, so the pict isn't the greatest.

2:40-5:40 Pm, Almost Clear Skies, Gusty Winds & 78 degrees. Four species from 133 sightings.
Lots of Olympia Marbles appeared to be paired off and mating! Catching the action with a still camera is difficult. But I gave it my best shot!!!

9:42-11:23 am, 68-77 degrees F, 60% sunshine, wind SW 5-10 mph. The Frosted Elfin was on an east-west track collinear with Stanton Road but 0.65 miles west of Hunter Haven Road. To get there requires walking 0.8 miles west on the track that begins 0.6 miles N of Stanton, south 0.65 miles on a track, east 0.1 miles on a track. The Funereal Duskywing from May 1 was on the same track as this Frosted but 0.25 miles more west. We had 5 unidentified elfins.

Part of extensive barrens complex in eastern Douglas County- this search was both side of County "A" 4.3 miles east of Hwy. 27. Still a little early for detecting Chryxus Arctic and most other species it seemed, but very promising. Good barrens moths at night though.

There is a large wildfire area east of here (and up Hwy 27) that would be VERY VALUABLE for people to monitor to see how the butterfly fauna recovers from a real, natural fire.

Ovipositing on globe thistle and pearly everlasting.

My first sulphur and azure of season.

11:47 am to 12:42 pm, 75-80 degrees F, 80% sunshine, wind SW 2-8 mph. The Frosted Elfin was just west of the metal pipeline on a south-facing slope overlooking the north side of the creek and southwest of the Wazee County Park. entrance.

10:30 Am - 12:30 Pm, Temp. starts at 60 degrees & by noon is 82 degrees. 50% cloud cover, sun peeks through in between passing clouds, constant gusty winds. Six species from 146 sightings! Elfins are a new challenge, the jittery flight and small size, you easily lose track of them!

A few FOY butterflies. Also, FOY Canada Goose goslings for Dunn county.

The Tiger made multiple touch-and-go visits to the new leaves on our black cherry tree, so presumably ovipositing, but those branches too high to allow confirmation.

12:45 - 1.30 Pm: 80 degrees, gusty winds, less cloud cover, Five species from 29 sightings!

Windy day

Returned home at the end of the day, early evening as I walked the dog in the back yard, observed my first butterfly sightings in my yard for the season. A Cabbage White seeking nectar from a bi-color violet and Red Admiral in the orchard, on the bark of a fruit tree.

Southern winds on Sunday night probably blew these Am. Ladies in from Illinois.

Mid 70s, partly sunny. Also saw an American Lady in a patch of pussytoes, but no chance for picture.

I also saw 3 whites, probably Mustard White.

A break today, in between clients: 30 minute walk down an old gravely fire lane off Hwy 67. 62 degrees, cloudy & windy: I observed four butterfly species from seven sightings. Also photographed a metallic green Tiger beetle-six spot ? I think
some 35+ all over the path entrance and one Forage Looper Day Moth

81° Sunny. Ladies showed up in force today.

4 sites, including 3 in the park. 12:13-1:51 pm, 72-79 degrees F, 80% sun, 0-5 mph.

More exploration of exciting new barrens- this one 5.3 miles east of Minong. Really excited for Chryxus Arctic here, but a tad on the early end. Also saw a duskywing but couldn't confirm ID.

Covered both FR241 and FR236 on east and west boundaries, mostly while birding in AM. Early phenology this spring!

Sunny, somewhat blustery. Red Admirals nectaring on wild plum.

Very pleased to see the Silvery Blue.

Always like to see Silvery Blues. The first Common Roadside-Skipper this year. Note checkered brown wing edge. This is the first of 2 broods in southern Wisconsin. While we observed the Tiger Swallowtail sipping moisture, a mating pair of flies landed on the wing and sipped moisture from the wing -- probably deposited there by dense morning fog. Also our first Pearl Crescent of the year.

Landed and sat still enough to get the pictures with an iPhone

Mid-70s, light breeze. First Red Admiral of the season, sunning on the west-facing side of the house. Floated away and returned to this spot a couple of times.

walked the open field and river corridor. Also saw many six-spotted tiger beetles on the trails. Best photo I could get of the Eastern Comma resting on a tree.

Repeatedly visited the pussytoes in our garden, but I haven't found any eggs. 30 milkweeds up now, calling the Monarchs that should arrive any day now.

I estimate I saw about 150+ butterflies thoughout my day today, with the majority of them flying too fast to positively identify. During 10 minutes, I recorded 23 flying in one area, all were flying north.

74 degrees, sunny. The American Lady was sampling the dandelions near the parking lot.

74 degrees, sunny. Red Admirals sunning on gravel roadside.

Also a tiger swallowtail and an unidentified blue.

5-6 pm, mostly sunny, mid 70's.

Just returned from a week in Virginia, to find spring has arrived here.

Brief stop- butterflies surprisingly scarce despite good nectar sources. Really expected more olympia marbles given the abundant rock cress.

83° partly Sunny and very windy.
Lady's & Tigers & Admirals ! Oh my!
Red Admirals every time I turn around. Lots of "Brushfoot" egg laying. Ticks seem to be everywhere.

Plus others that blew by too fast for identification on this blustery day.

4:00 pm . temp. 87 degrees. Singleton Monarch along roadside, in flight.
Milkweeds in my garden sprouted on May 6.

The last time I saw a Compton Tortoiseshell in Waushara County was at least 6 years ago. It was flying high in the trees and didn't come down.

Decided to count the red admirals today instead if estimating, but didn't have nearly as much time outside today.

First of spring

Near the nature center along willow trail.

I went looking to see if the Boghaunters were flying. I saw 7 Ringed Boghaunters and 2 Ebony. I was surprised to see that the two in the wheel included both species! Hudsonian Whiteface (4) were also flying.

Also 1 tiger swallowtail

73 degrees. Short stop, late afternoon. Swallowtails nectaring on wild plum blossoms.

These have been very common around Kenosha the last several years.

Saw many red Admirals along the edge of a wooded area.

My first Red Admiral of the year.

Warm and breezy day. The Red Admirals finally showed up, saw at least 3 females depositing eggs on the stinging nettles. An Eastern tiger swallowtail flew by as well as cabbage whites. Also noted 2 Six-spotted tiger beetles.
Glad to see more bumble bees buzzing about than in previous years.

50 degrees, cloudy & strong winds most of the day, from 2:00 - 3:30 PM this afternoon the sun finally came out and temp reached 62. Now butterfllies were out and about for a short time! Twenty-three sightings for seven species.

12:50-1:41 pm, 59-64 degrees F, 40% sun, wind NE 2-5 mph. Site is immediately across two driving tracks from the wildlife area also surveyed. Mottled Duskywings were fresh, and one nectared on a blueberry species. Half of the elfins and many of the duskywings we saw were unidentified.

Bog locations: Milchesky Road 1.15 miles west and 1.8 miles west of County A, Bear Lake and North Bear Lake on County A, Lyman Lake 2.5 miles by road west of County L. 11:37-11:59 am and 3:13-5:05 pm, 52-60 degrees F, 80% sun, wind NE 5-10 mph. 3 Red-disked Alpines on Bear Lake (not North Bear) Bog and 1 at Milchesky 1.8. Bear Lake and Lyman Lake had 80% of the Freijas. We also saw an unidentified Mustard/West Virginia White.

11am-1pm, overcast to sunny, mid 60s. The pictures of the Juvenal's Duskywing are of the same butterfly, at the Prairie and across the street at a local business.

12:50-1:20 pm, 58-62 degrees F, 40% sun, wind NE 3-10 mph. We surveyed the 10-20 meter wide unburned firebreak of 2 burned state land patches and immediately next to non-public land we also surveyed (and will post here as well).

Saw three or more American Ladies at, no surprise, pussytoes. Surprise was the sighting of at least three Crescents.

My FOY Silver-spotted skipper.

It's been nice to see the wildlife coming back to this area.

71° Sunny 2:15-4:30PM On a mission to find Elfins in the Bog NE of Bright Lake. Didn't find any. Bog is an easy one to walk. 2 of the ETS were Black Females.

Cloud cover 95% most of the day, a cool morning 46 degrees, Sun came out barely for about a half hour. A quick walk through the property yielded three Red Admirals & one Question Mark. The constant gusty 25-30mph winds carried the startled Red Admirals away, eliminating any photo opportunities. However the Question Mark fought hard against the wind and landed in a wildflower meadow. Finally, a photo of a butterfly! My only success for the day -

Along Stolte Road, where Karners are found later. Did see a few unidentified "blues." Glassed lupine plants, did not see any Karner larval feeding evidence.

Early afternoon, sunny, 60 degrees. My FOY pearl crescent and American lady.

Sunny and a bit warmer today! The Red Admirals were flying about. Still waiting for that first monarch. The milkweed is 6-8 inches tall.

On raspberry plants

Was surprised to see the clouded sulphur!

3-5pm Sunny, cool. The Red Admirals were mostly on wooded trails on top of the ridge.

Forgot this one, from list just submitted.

40 degrees and Sunny 8:45-8:50 AM. Overnight low of 33 degrees. I was truly amazed to se not 1, but 5 Red Admirals in flight this morning while taking down my turkey hunting blind. Hope they didn't have plans to use it. Saw the Northern Lights last night at 10:30 PM.

I had been trying off and on to find Freija Fritillary and Red-disked Alpine in Langlade Co. since 2003 without success. The last records (to the best of my knowledge) of both species were in 1978 by Jim Parkinson and George Balogh.

Saw a couple dozen dusky-winged skippers at the corner of Reed Lake Road and James Road, on the gravel. If you want to hone your skipper ID skills, try this corner. Also present were a dozen or more blues, with at least three species. A few Olympias were seen at other spots on Crex.

Saw an unidentified comma and tiger swallowtail

Site visit late in day after long cloudy spell.

Mid 60's, sunny, mid-afternoon

3:00 - 4:00 Pm, 62 degrees, mostly cloudy & windy
Nine sightings for four different species.

I also saw my first Chalk-fronted Corporal of the year,

And one birdie.

11-41-11:53 AM, 60-63 degrees F, 0% sun, wind NW 0-3 mph. Survey length was 0.4 miles.

11:08-11:29 a.m, 12:18-12:34 PM, and 4:59-5:58 PM (in widely separated non-overlapping areas during these three different times), 59-68 degrees F, 5% sun, wind west 2-4 mph. We walked 2.2 miles while surveying. The Cobweb Skippers were 1/4 mile west of Brockway Road, south of the creek that crosses south of the Wazee Co. park entrance. The Am. Copper was north of Bauer Road, 0.4 miles west of Brockway Road.

This was a SWBA field trip scheduled for May 17 but rainy forecast caused it to be rescheduled for Friday, May 15. 8 people participated. We searched for butterflies for binocular viewing and photography for about 6.5 hours. This is the earliest (by a few days) that we have done the trip. We found 168 butterflies of 14 species. In the 9 years we have done this trip, this was the lowest number of Elfin species and 2nd lowest number of species. Probably the recent cold spell has delayed flight periods? It was great fun nonetheless. We did watch a Persius Duskywing lay an egg on lupine for the second year on this trip!

Sumner Matteson and I (the Green Team) spent yesterday biking and birding all over Madison for the Great Wisconsin Birdathon. While we saw Red Admirals almost everywhere we went, the greatest concentration was at the Nine Springs shorebird ponds.

This was a 6.5 mile walk on a circuit of driving tracks west of Hunter Haven Road beginning 0.6 miles N of Stanton Road. 1:16-4:39 pm, 60-71 degrees F, 15% sunshine, wind NW 1-4 mph. We also found 2 unidentified elfins, an unidentified lady, 16 unidentified duskywings, and an unidentified cloudywing/duskywing.

seen while birding

Powerline and ATV ROW just east of County I approx. 6.5-7 miles south of Hwy 8. 1st site is where County Forest Road 602/Mirror Lake Road crosses the north-south ROW east of Cty I (8 Chryxus Arctics, but weather was terrible); 2nd site is 0.5 miles or a little more to the south of there, where the entire ROW tilts somewhat to the west and crests out with slopes down from this crest both to the south and north (17 Chryxus, in poor but better weather than at FR 602) . 10:35-11:22 AM 57-65 degrees F, 0% sun, wind south 2-10 mph.

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and landed on my lawn. I saw two other butterflies that I could not get a good look at.

10:00 am Saturday-Skirting around Lilacs and Sumac landed on Fence around former veggie garden area, solo as far as we could tell.

Cloudy, with Periods of Rain. 8:30-12:30. mid-70s to mid-80s.

I saw individual monarch butterflies several times while gardening. My milkweed is 8-12" tall, so I will look for eggs in a few days.
I've been seeing red admirals for a week.

Bog on FR 2182 In the Nicolet National Forest 0.5 mile east of the Military Road on the north side of Forest Road 2182. 2:33-2:45 PM, 75-82 degrees F, 40% sunshine, wind south 1-4 mph.

In the Nicolet NF east of Three Lakes—three bogs along FR 2182 between Military Road and Forest Road 2414,and one bog along FR 2414. Also one other Forest County bog. All but one Freija Fritillary and all but one Red-disked Alpine were on the Wolf Lake Bog (see May 2nd account). 1:00-1:40 PM and 2:50-5:00 PM, 72-82 degrees F, 40% sunshine, wind south 1-8 mph. We also had 3 unidentified Mustard/West Virginia Whites.

11:41 AM-12:35 PM, 63-72 degrees F, wind south 2-10 mph. Road in remains scary for a small car but we made it. An easy spot to find that is also where Chryxus Arctics are relatively common in season is the basin just west of this road (main road in to SNA) 0.4 miles north of Hwy 8. Cobweb Skipper site is much further N, after the road passes through a forest, bends west, and finally straightens into a long straightaway. Much scarier rocks in the road to get here! After the road climbs to a gentle crest and begins descending, there are a few spots where we sometimes find Cobwebs, especially in the Wild Lupine patches that start near a Bluebird box on the east side of the road.

First of spring Monarch for me.

Climber was slightly injured when we saw him. He was on our lilac bushes and his wings were wet. We picked him up with a flower and put him on the front steps to dry out. After about a half hour we moved him to the rosebushes. About a half hour later he attempted to fly and after some trials, was able to fly away.

86° Variable Skies. Woodcock and her brood were crossing the road near our farm. Only able to get this pict.
First Mustard White & Giant Swallowtail of the year for me.

Was very windy and partly sunny from 10 - 2.

The Monarch's wing pattern looked to be female, but we haven't found any eggs on the milkweeds.

Sunny and 53-55 degrees. 10:10-12:50. Saw my first of the year Four-spotted Skimmer and Dot-tailed Whiteface (dragonflies) today.

Sunny, cool and windy. Species count for the year now up to two.

54° Mostly Sunny. Quick ride to the marsh and back. A cold North wind blows today. 2-2:30 PM

48 degrees at 9:45 when I saw the butterflies.

Only 1 Chryxus Arctic despite being in the right place at the right time with good weather. Odd.

seen on gravel driveway took off before I could get a photo

Horse riding trail loop through upland Mesic & Dry Mesic forest! 2:30Pm - 6:00 Pm, Sunny with a few scattered clouds, Gusty winds most of the day! Once again making photography difficult, when flushing a butterfly, winds sweep it away out of camera range. Sixty five sightings for twelve species & one active Anglewing Moth on the trail!

60-63° Mostly Sunny. 10-4 PM Spent the day learning about bog habitat with Kyle Johnson and Shane. We just happened to show up at the same time. Kyle was able to show Doreen a couple of butterflies that wouldn't come close to the road. Thanks Kyle!

almost dried up depression along the Carlin Rd.

Quick stop on the way home. I stopped yesterday but it was 55 and cloudy and I saw no butterflies. 65 degrees and some sun today! I saw a female exhibiting egg laying behavior. There were both species of toothworts in the vicinity, but she only was hiding under the Two-leaved Toothworts (didn't actually see her laying eggs),

55 degrees and cloudy and calm at 9:00 am but warmed up to 65 degrees by 1:00. First time I have seen a Chryxus Arctic nectaring.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail was sighted near a stand of Digitalis (Foxglove) plants and Achillea (Yarrow). The Red Admiral was feeding on chive blossoms.

Location: Ashland, WI in backyard.

I also saw two tiger swallowtails, 6 Big Sand Tiger Beetles and 1 Six-spotted Tiger Beetle.

One of the American Ladies had an orange tag on it but when I got closer than 12 inches it took off.

Sunny with a few clouds and gusty winds. Temperatures starting out at about 48 degrees and reaching 62 degrees by mid afternoon. FIRST Monarch sighting of the season for me! Seventy-nine sightings for six species of butterfly.
Seven Chickweed Geometers -

Our first backyard Monarch of the year, checking out the milkweed.

First swallowtails of spring for me. Lots of Amer. Ladies and Red Admirals this spring too.

The American Lady was ovipositing on Pearly Everlastings in our garden. The QM was also ovipositing, on the leaves of an elm tree, but on branches too high for me to access.

Brief survey of section on west side of Nixon Lake Road, south of Nixon Creek. Great potential for other peatland species- Bog Fritillary, for example, should be common here.

This is the first time I have found Frigga Fritillary using a riparian peatland complex. Bog willow (Salix pedicellaris)- the only demonstrated larval food plant in our region- is common here and if timing/effort was better one could probably observe large numbers of Frigga.

About 7-8 miles east of Minong, 1/2 mile east of where the railway goes under Hwy 77. 5:41-5:55 pm, 75-77 degrees F, 100% sun, wind southwest 1-3 mph.

3:33-4:44 pm, 77-81 degrees F, 100% sun, wind west 3-8 mph. Site is immediately across two driving tracks from Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area, in the NE corner of county. Mottled Duskywings were concetnrated near the SW corner of hte forest/savanna.

Bogs at Lyman Lake (E. Lyman Lake Rd 2.5 miles west of County L), Bear Lake, North Bear lake, Bear Lake SW (the last 3 on Cty A south of Amnicon lake), Milchesky Road 1.15 miles and 1.8 miles, and Moose Junction East and West. 11:12 am to 3:00 pm, 66-76 degrees F, 100% sunshine, wind variable 0-8 mph. The only Frigga Fritillary, about a week ahead of schedule here, was at Moose Junction East bog, the fastest Frigga site we went to. Freijas were on the same 5 sites as on May 10, and Red-disked Alpines were on bear Lake (4), North bear, and Milchesky 1.75 (2).

74° and Sunny. A brief walk looking for KB first emergence. Ground nesting sparrow of some kind. On our way home from Minocqua we saw Red Admirals in every county and Tiger Swallowtails & Sulphurs in all but one.

Sunny breezy and about 70 degrees. Watched a Red Admiral depositing eggs, mostly inside unfurled nettle leaves.

Thursday I saw 15 Red Admirals on the UW-Oshkosh campus.

Tigers, tigers, and more tigers!

Sunny, mid 70's, with southerly wind, saw my 1st Monarch of the year, it fluttered around the garden then continue on north. Also getting lots of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, they also mostly are just flighting through the garden, if they are different ones then I've seen 10+ today.

Take care

Also saw lots of white-striped black moths

In the early PM 75 F partly cloudy windy. Saw the butterflies near wooded area

Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin butterfly trek; numbers are combined from May 22 (done alone) and May 23 (NRFW group). Area still dry; no mud puddling at all. Dusky wings scarce. All butterfly numbers very low. Leather leaf and New Jersey Tea plants killed back to the ground--why?? Bearberry in good shape, though. Lupine out on Klotz Rd in Crex.

Toothwort was done blossoming so the WV Whites were looking for nectar with little luck. I missed the peak of flight by at least a week.

I saw several Cananadian Tigers STs that appeared to be "puddling" ona strecth of gravel road. I pulled over and they flew. There was a dead Canadian Tiger ST on the side of the road and it wasn't long before it was covered with with the same 4-5 butterflies that flew earlier. (see photos). Also found my first WI Eastern Red-backed Salamander.

8:22-8:44 AM,66-67 degrees F, 100% sunshine, wind south 1-8 mph.

Three Black Creek Bogs south of Clam Lake, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.8 miles east of County GG on Forest Road 164, and the Dwarf Birch part of a bog on FR 182 north of Clam Lake. We found Friggas on all 4 bogs, although we do not usually find any of them at the Black Creek 0.8 mile bog.

In Chequamegon NF along Forest Roads 137 (4 bog), 136 (1), 505 (2), and Highway 70 (0.25 mi E of FR 148/0.5 mi E of FR 137). 10:00 am to 1:48 pm, 71-79 degrees F, 95% sunshine, wind southwest 3-6 mph. We found Friggas at one bog along each road. One of the easiest places to see Friggas is from the ditch at the Hwy 70 bog, although today the three we saw were well out on the bog and could not be seen from the ditch.

74° Sunny 12-12:30 PM Only had time for a quick ride to the marsh. Had 2 more non-IDed species. Had a male Rose Breasted Grosbeak land on the path in front of me for a quick picture.

Temps in the mid sixties and raining all day so I wasn't butterflying but happened to see my FOY Monarch.

Copper Falls State Park was unbelievable! The Harvester was puddling on Bank of the Bad River at an access point near on of the crossing bridges.

11:30Am - 2:30Pm, 66degrees, 97% cloud cover, gusty winds: Butterflies & five different species of day moths were active until the RAINS CAME. Sixty-eight sightings for Ten species. Happened upon a Toothed Somberwing day moth! They fly both day and night -

This butterfly was first spotted by Peter Fissel on a WSO birding field trip.

saw in yard

Cool, humid and cloudy with off and on sprinkles. 10:00 to 11:15. Not much doing unless you count mosquitos.

This park used to have an abundance of pussytoes (Antennaria) for American Lady habitat; today I had difficulty finding any plants. I hope that is a random or cyclic change, not a permanent trend.

2:28-2:49 pm, 65-68 degrees F, 0% sun, wind southwest 6-12 mph.

67° Cloudy 1-12:30 PM. Red Admiral took the helm.

While waiting at stoplight, I saw two swallowtails together fly by above my car.

I was happy to see a dragonfly along the path.

3:30 - 5:00 Pm, Isolated thunderstorms around us, but the sun shown through! Thirty-nine sightings for nine species -

Round 2. Clouds dissolved long enough to get there, then returned. Found this Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillar on Honeysuckle.

Seen along a back road that goes through a swampy area.

Finally saw my first monarch of the season!

3 barrens sites. 2:55-3:45 pm, 75-83 degrees F, 90% sun, wind south 4-10 mph. The Karner Blue was a male

Four sites. 3:52-5:42 PM, 76-83 degrees F, 90% sun, wind south 4-6 mph. 16 male and 10 female Karner Blues at 3 of the 4 sites.

74-81° Sunny. After 1:30 PM . Found a Common Map Turtle in a drainage ditch on the Fox River.

Gorgones plentiful. Same Karner Blue that Kathy Java saw?

No Karners seen at any of five likely sites in Crex. FOY Dusted Skippers. Rain really helped--damp sand of road attracted dusky wings, roadside and dusted skippers. Mottled DW was a road kill.

The black form female came and sat on a plant right next to us on our deck and returned several times.

I made a quick stop at a small patch of Lupine on Stolte Road and found the FOY Karner. Also I think I found a Monarch egg on Common Milkweed although I've only even seen 2 Monarchs so far this spring.

After a rainy morning, the sun came out and the rest of the day was beautiful.

Also: 3 tiger swallowtails
Monarch laying eggs on common milkweed, first of the year for me.

~11:30, sunny, 79

Four sites. 12:00-1:41 pm, 69-79 degrees F, 75% sun, wind SW 0-4 mph.

8:43-8:59 AM, 76 degrees F, 95% sunshine, wind 0-5 mph,

Seen while looking for birds. Both birds I went looking for were WI lifers.