Butterfly sightings for October 2018

Only submitting this because of Beth's sighting the next day, Oct 3. We weren't going to submit sighting since there wasn't much; but "negative" data often are as important/interesting. We walked around the gardens and out to the Thai Pavilion where many different flowers still in bloom.

Hot, humid, and very windy day. Only a few wildflowers left blooming. Monarchs were flying close to the ground in grassy areas and Eastern Commas were sunning themselves on the trails.

Brief stop in between errands. Eight monarchs enjoying the zinnias. And a couple of cabbage whites.

This Red Admiral decided to rest in my flower garden for a while today. Good luck for me!

After 5 days of cool, cloudy, rainy weather, it was warm today and windy! Saw 2 monarchs fighting the south winds, they stayed close to the ground.

Five of the monarchs were seen incidentally while collecting prairie seeds at Holy Wisdom.

After a prolonged cool and rainy period we had 85 degrees and mostly sunny! We saw more than we expected. (But less than we hoped to see.) Roadside mowing within Wyalusing St. Pk. was extreme. We were surprised by the number of Little Yellows. We thought the Swallowtail was trying to nectar on dried up Queen Anne's Lace but the photo shows the proboscis coiled. Heard a Floodplain Cicada.

Brisk wind from the SW, preventing monarch migration today. They were stalled at the gardens. Most monarchs looked strong and healthy; one had damaged wings but could still fly well. I stopped counting at 50. Most popular nectaring plant: Verbena bonariensis.

I walked the loop around the property. Still lots of migrating Common Green Darners and Black Saddlebags dragonflies. I saw two adult Silver-spotted Skippers at Forest Beach, and I included shots of a Silver-spotted Skipper caterpillar that I found at a different location today.

Six days ago I counted 335 Monarchs over the same area. Since then it has cooled down considerably and this was the warmest day since then. It was 62 degrees today with cloudy skies and winds 15-20 mph.

early afternoon

Also had 1 unidentified Skipper (Fiery/Peck's most likely) and an unidentified Comma.

Hot sunny day after several windy cool days with rain.

Seen in flower beds at my residence.

Sun and warm temps again!

This was a very fresh butterfly.

While out doing some hiking and a bumble bee survey

I walked the prairie loop around the Forest Beach property - beautiful, breezy day in the 70's with dramatic clouds. Not many dragonflies left.

The Monarch had a broken/severely damaged wing but was still making good time going south

66 degrees and sunny!! Fresh female Fiery Skipper. Also only the eighth report this year for Painted Lady in Wisconsin and probably only the seventh individual reported since there were two reports that included one on two consecutive days, and only with one report with two individuals.

mid morning

late AM

mid afternoon

At noon it was 52 degrees and partly sunny. I wasn't expecting to see any butterflies. The Red Admiral was very fresh looking

Helped me pick apples

In addition, 1 unidentified Polygonia spp.

Not as many as I thought there would be. 59 degrees from 3:00-4:30.

I hiked some on the trails hoping to see some butterflies but saw none. I drove the auto loop from Hwy 49 and saw a Monarch fly across in front of me. I counted 9 Isabella Tiger Moth caterpillars (woolly bears) crossing the road.

sunny breezy- high forties early afternoon

Cool and sunny afternoon

Few nectar sources available.

Also spotted one Polygonia spp. Almost all were nectaring on New England asters.

Additionally 1 unidentified Polygonia

While gardening

Hard frost but the sun came out and it warmed to 50 F. One Autumn Meadowhawk and one Eastern Comma out and about.

After yesterday's taste of winter (cold, windy, brief snow showers) today felt much warmer. Besides the flock of Goldfinches, not much was flying around.

Sunny and 55 at noon. A couple butterflies were missed by frosts.

3:00-4:00. I saw 13 Common Green Darners and two Autumn Meadowhawks. I missed seeing a Kate Redmond!

Nice sunny 60 degree day after cold, wind, and snow two days ago.

Beautiful October afternoon, mid-50's, light breeze, no mosquitoes.

warm (60 degrees) and sunny

Unusual sighting for our yard

60 degrees and sunny, 2:00-2:45

sunny, about 50 degrees and breezy

Eastern Comma was resting on a fence near my garden. Sunny and 45 degrees.

Watched the Mourning Cloak butterfly sun itself in several locations in my yard. Each time it switched locations it would first fly around me near my feet. Sunny 50 degree afternoon.

Warmest day here in two weeks. 55 and sunny.

Beautiful afternoon, about 60 degrees, mostly sunny. A few meadowhawks and tree crickets still around, too.

light breeze, partially sunny, high 50s