Butterfly sightings for September 2016

Mid-70s, mostly sunny. Early-mid afternoon saw lots of sulphurs, both clouded and orange, and some common buckeyes. Later, in a different area where there were very few nectar sources, there were some American coppers (but very few other butterflies in that area). Later in the afternoon we visited another area which had a good number of nectar sources but no butterflies at all.

The creekside environment of this trail supports a resident population of Viceroys (and also carnivorous mosquitoes which lurk in the woods). Fortunately the side trails to the meadows and prairie are well-maintained.

Short visits at both places due to time constraints. Saw quite a few butterflies though. Good to see a number of meadow fritillaries. I haven't seen many of them this year.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail was a worn black-form female.

The Red Admiral was vibrant and fresh. One of the monarchs was faded and very tattered.

The butterfly was sitting quietly on a brick near my butterfly bush but I did not see it on the bush.

Very enjoyable visit to McKee Park. Lots of nectar sources. I was happy to see a a good number of fiery skippers. They are one of my favorite butterflies. Once you find them, they always seem willing to pose for photos, including in some rather unusual positions. Other highlights were a very striking dragonfly that I wasn't familiar with, and a snowy egret who was quite active, first fishing, then flying from one side of the pond to the other, and finally landing in a tree.

I also saw a Pileated Woodpecker.

78 F, 48% RH, S wind 11.5 - 18.4 mph, partly cloudy. The pearl crescents were everywhere. Swallowtails and fritillaries were enjoying the thistle flowers. Clouded sulphers were in the alfalfa field. Many moths observed.

The Silver-spotted Skipper I saw early this morning, hoping to get a photo but never returned. All butterflies were feeding on my butterfly bushes. Along with 3 Hummingbirds and a clearwing moth.

Not really as many butterflies as I expected. There are a lot of nectar sources for the few butterflies and bees seen. The Common Buckeye did not really want his picture taken.

The Clouded Sulfurs were seen in a farm field.

We saw our first ever Copper today!

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on zinnia, in the Monarch Way Station in my backyard near UWM campus

82 - 85 F, 60 - 51% RH, SSW - S wind 12 mph with gusts up to 26 mph. Thistledown was flying in the wind and it was difficult to focus my binoculars and keep my hat on. Even monarchs were being blown by the wind.

It was a hot day (90 with high humidity). Several monarchs flitted through at various points in the afternoon. I saw three at one point, so my estimate of four total is probably low.

My lifer Compton Tortoiseshell

Saw what I thought was a mother until I Google Drive and found out it was an uncommon sighting of a Common Buckeye!

These were seen rather incidentally while collecting prairie seeds on a cloudy morning.

Also had a very white Clouded/Orange Sulphur which I was unable to confidently ID.

Sunny, low 80's. The butterflies were sitting on the moist gravel after the rains. The blues were everywhere.

The most Monarchs in yard so far this year. Photo of Peck's Skipper by Dorothy.

Monarch in Monarch Way Station in my backyard, near UWM campus

Calling him the "sidewalk skipper" because he was just sitting there, resting. After I had taken pictures, I nudged him to sit on my finger. Then he flew away quickly. He was much more orange yellow than the camera interpreted him as.

One of the Monarchs had recently emerged from its chrysalis under the eaves of our cabin. We saw our first American Copper ever today.

Hooray! Saw the Leonard's skipper, a lifer for both of us. Also saw a couple of dainty sulphurs--nice since we don't see them very often. Other sightings of note were two interesting caterpillars and one interesting insect.

Including 3 Monarchs observed migrating south.

Incidental while on WSO field trip.

After our stop at Spring Green Preserve, it started raining, so we decided to go have lunch. When we emerged from the restaurant, the sun was out, so we got to do some more exploring. Bakken Pond, some rural roads in the area, but the best stop was at the Spring Green Memorial Library, where they have planted a beautiful garden outside. That's where we saw the fiery and Peck's skippers.

Five out of the six Purplish Coppers were along the Archer Drive roadside or in grassland adjacent to Archer, in hte firt 1/2 mile west of County Hwy W.

Also many, many Black Saddlebags feeding just overhead.

4:00pm, sunny, breezy, 75 degrees. Short walk hoping to see a few cabbage whites and maybe some clouded sulphurs. Successful there, also quite a few Eastern tailed blues. Some of the blues looked quite fresh, others were extremely worn. There was lots of white clover for them to nectar on.

The Monarchs were particularly enjoying the tall boneset and the showy goldenrod. There were at least ten Eastern-Tailed Blues within a very small area at the springs including six within inches on a sunny rock.

I haven't had much time this summer for butterflies or checking out my prairie, so I decided to spend a few minutes today checking out what was flowering and flying. The highlight was seeing a season high 9 Monarchs, until I spotted the Reakirt's Blue, which is a lifer for me. At first I thought it was an Eastern Tailed-Blue, but something didn't look right and I didn't have a good angle with the binoculars. I dropped to my knees and decided to take a photo and figure out later what it was. I got 3 back-lit photos before it took off. I saw it land again and tried for a better position, but it didn't cooperate. The first photo was just a butterfly-shaped blob, but the rest were good enough for an ID.

I took a short hike near Stephen's Falls and Cox Hollow Lake.
The largest species count were the Pearl Crescents. There were a significant number on or near the dike and overflow.

Laurie and I counted 28 monarchs on goldenrods along Bues Point Rd. adjacent to the SNA and at the very least another 15 out on the bedrock area along the bay.

Many monarchs and buckeyes along beach area adjacent to and Cana Island Rd.

Sunny, 70 degrees with a southwest breeze. Monarchs were nectaring on stiff and showy goldenrods, northern blazing star, tall boneset and New England asters. Tagged 4 monarchs for Monarch Watch. Also saw 2 common buckeye caterpillars, tiger moth caterpillar and several small moths

All 3 copper individuals were in the east roadside or east ditch of Farmer's Road, 0.0 to 0.4 miles south of Swamp Road.

Decided to see what was flying after 1:30 PM after unpacking. Saw some while checking trail cams. Record number of Buckeyes seen in a day here on the farm. One mating pair.

First time I've ever spotted a butterfly like that!

strong onshore winds (12-15 mph)

Seen nectaring on a sunflower species at the front entrance of the nature center.

17 species. 2nd Common Checkered-Skipper was at a 2nd site. Other immigrant highlights were numerous Common Buckeyes, Fiery Skipper, Little Yellow and Dainty Sulphur.

Near 80 degrees. Full sun when I arrived turned into full clouds by 3:30pm.

Counting the ones flying over the road. Many dead ones along the road.

Walking along the beach north of the north parking area. Spent about 2 hours walking.

Counting the ones flying over the road.

On my way home from Springbrook, WI after 9:30 AM. Counting the ones flying over the road. Many dead ones along the road.

56 degrees when I left the house this morning but still managed to find some butterflies. I mainly butterflied my favorite spots, the ends of Jimmy Carter Road and the ends of Southwest Dike Trail.

76 Degrees and sunny. 4 PM. Saw this (see photo) darker Common Buckeye. It is the Winter or Rosa Form. The areas of the for wing on this one that are normally white or cream appear orange.

Monarch on Cosmos in Monarch Way Station, in my backyard near UWM campus

nectaring on Sky-blue Asters on one of our dry bluff prairies

Walked mostly around the parking areas with the plant gardens.

I also saw a flock of 15+ Eastern Bluebirds and 2 Great Blue Herons.

nectaring on blooming Sedum

I found a mated pair of Fiery Skippers, several Silver Spotted Skipper caterpillars, and Black Swallowtail eggs and cats.

We found Purplish Coppers in all 4 (off-road) grassland surveys along Archer Drive, County Hwy W, and County Hwy D, but only 6 individual in almost 5 person-miles walked. We found Purplish Coppers in 11 out of 12 roadside surveys along Archer Drive, County Hwy W, and Apache Road, for a total of 38 individuals in just 3 person-miles walked. We think this is the only time we have seen a Fiery Skipper here.

Only 1 butterfly sighted in the first 25-30 minutes while the sky was mostly cloudy at Sandhill. When the sun came out so did the butterflies. Saw 7 species in the next 10-15 minutes. Hess garden held Painted Lady, CW, ETB, Pecks, Monarch.

I stopped here around 3:00 pm, thinking it would be a short visit on my way to the grocery store. I went to the part of the park where I normally see black swallowtails, hoping to see a few of them, which I did. However, I was totally surprised to see monarchs everywhere since this is not the part of the park where I usually see many monarchs. I've never seen so many monarchs in one place before. It made me wonder if they were in other parts of the park in large numbers too. Unfortunately there wasn't enough time or energy to explore the other parts of the park to find out. A great spangled fritillary joined the monarchs on one of their nectar plants. It was so much fun to feel totally surrounded by butterflies that I stayed almost two hours. I played the game of trying to see how many monarchs I could capture in one photo. I have many photos with 7 or 8 in the photo, but my record was 11. The great spangled fritillaries and pearl crescents were very worn.

Upper 60s, calm, sunny. Asters, few Goldenrods, and a few Black Eyed Susans. Thistles now done. Eastern Tailed-Blues continue to be plentiful and vibrant. 2 Great Spangled Fritillaries (not pictured) were tattered, tan and beige. I was also unable to photograph few dark grass skippers (Dun?) flying fast and low. Single Northern Crescent very worn. Viceroy, initially found among aspen saplings (though photo on prickly ash) perhaps the most vibrant specimen I have ever seen. Lots of Autumn Meadowhawks and quite a few Mosaic Darners out too.

18:32 - 19:00 monarchs were leaving gardens to roost in trees next to the bike trail. Buckeye flying around Community Gardens

Low 70's, sunny and windy.

More Monarchs than I have seen on one day this year. It has been a poor summer for butterflies in general.

I also saw a flock of 9 Cedar Waxwings. There were many white forms of the Clouded/Orange Sulphurs.

We saw our first Painted Lady of the season!

There were Clouded Sulphurs everywhere! There were quite a few of the white forms of the Clouded/Orange Sulphur. I also saw an Eastern Garter Snake and an Eastern Meadowlark.

3:30-4:30. 70 degrees and sunny

Also found a late instar Monarch caterpillar.

This Black Swallowtail came to feed on some parsley growing near the front stoop after a rainy day.

We also saw an Eastern Garter Snake and four Turkeys.

The monarchs were nectaring just north of the oak stands, probably roosting in the trees at night.

76° Mostly Sunny. Just before putting in prairie plants that a friend gave me, I spied this guy in my garden. Oh, so worn and tattered. Until he closed his winds I could only guess at his true identity. The other one looked nearly perfect in structure.

Monarchs and skippers on old fashioned zinnia and Tithonia. The nearby goldenrod, asters and other blooming prairie plants were not being used for nectaring.

Saw this Milbert's Tortiseshell on the boardwalk. As I would approach, it would fly a few feet ahead and then land again.

Sunny, high 70's windy.

Only my second Eastern Tiger Swallowtail ever up here, though I didn't manage very good doc shots. Also a late and very worn White Admiral.

One buckeye and three monarchs nectaring at Olga Brener. Two buckeyes and 1 monarch at Hillcrest Prairie. 6 monarchs migrating through tennis courts.

Stopped counting at a VERY conservative 75 Silver-Spotted but believe easily 100+. Most on Giant Hyssop along wooded edge at top of a ravine about 10' west of trail on top of bluff. But they were throughout the prairie on purple asters, stiff gentian, goldenrods.

Many sulphurs and "cabbage" whites.

Is last photo a female pearl crescent?

Cabbage whites and clouded sulphurs were everywhere! The monarchs were all fresh males, caught and tagged 2 for Monarch Watch. The American lady was very worn. Also saw a fresher lady but unable to tell if it was a Painted or American. One of the viceroys was depositing eggs on white poplar shoots. Early instar viceroy caterpillar on aspen shoot. 4 late instar Eastern tiger caterpillars on Black cherry and 2 late instar monarch caterpillars on common milkweed.

I arrived at 0900 and did not see a classic giant cluster, but the individual Monarchs were TNTC (I stopped counting after 150), nectaring on the abundant flowers. I parked at the lot on PD and hiked across the meadow to the oak woods, then back along the treeline.

(forgot to append this photo to previous report)

9:15 - 11:00AM, sunny, upper 60s. Thanks to Les Ferge for identifying the moth!

What a spectacular day at Rotary Gardens. Monarchs everywhere. Their most popular nectar source was Mexican sunflowers, many planted just outside the visitor center and along the edge of the parking lot, plus many more planted inside the gardens themselves. The monarchs availed themselves of many other nectar sources as well. Highlights of the day were seeing the Common Checkered-Skipper, only the second one we've ever seen in our lives, and seeing the Sachems. All of the beautiful flowers and the other species of butterflies we saw made it feel more like a summer day than the end of September.

seen in back yard on some zinnias

Seen while chopping corn silage

From parking lot along north-south stretch of Harvey Road, we walked in the grassland to east and north of the gate the closes the north end of the road.

Sunny, 60's.

I also saw one white form of a clouded/orange sulfur.

Got lucky with the orange Sulphur in flight. The Clouded Sulphur was taken by an Ambush Bug just as I attempted to photograph the butterfly.

Painted Lady and Silver-spotted Skipper at Lake Park

A birding walk turned into a butterfly walk around 11:30 when the clouds cleared. I've never seen so many Dainty Sulphurs! (and I only walked part of the field) It was so much fun to get multiple chances at photos!

80, sunny and no wind.

Black Swallowtail in Monarch Way Station in my backyard, near UWM campus

butterflies choosing Zinnia and Tithonia over tall boneset, goldenrod, and asters. Skippers often on asters. 14:10-14:49 0.9 miles

I also saw four Eastern Bluebirds and twenty Blue-winged Teals.

I was so surprised to find so many butterflies on a cloudy day. There were also a lot of interesting moths nectaring on the Asters.

The Milbert's Tortoiseshell was attracted to the asters near the front of our house.

70, cloudy, still wet from the rain.

We also saw some interesting fungi that grew one on top of the other on the side of a tree.

Low 70's and windy.

Saw at least 4 individuals flying and nectaring.

I was hoping this was a Question Mark, but I think it's an Eastern comma. Also saw a 5th instar monarch caterpillar and a Common Buckeye chrysalis.

2 pairs Cabbage Whites observed mating. Sachem female. Fiery Skipper male.

I was at Bob's house when he noticed a swallowtail flying around his backyard. To my amazement it a Giant Swallowtail, only the 4th Giant Swallowtail I have seen in Waushara County since 2000. I still don't have a photo record for this species in the county!

Beautiful day with many prairie plants in full bloom. This was only the third encounter in my lifetime with the American Snout. I had about 200 Monarchs last weekend, but only a few noted today.