Butterfly sightings for April 2018

Found three Eastern Comma in sunny splashes within red/white pine plantation which was selectively cut last year

Mid to high 50's with sunshine, the woods were filled with Eastern Commas. Was very difficult to approach them, so I waited for them to come to me.

I was not expecting this! Glad I had my camera.

55 degrees, sunny. 3 snowstorms since my first sighting.

Finally the first butterflies of the year.

It had landed on a car, stopped for a moment and it was off again!

This is the first time I've managed to get a picture of my FOY butterfly.

Yay! Butterfly season is finally here! Also a couple of commas, probably Eastern. Temps in the 50's but there is still snow on some of the trails.

still quite a bit of snow on most slopes. South-facing hills open. 1 Eastern Comma seen on one of these open slopes.

Snow everywhere but sunny and low 60’s.

First butterflies, noon, sunny and about 60, on our driveway. Rich colors! Snow is still piled around.

A walk in the woods and finally a butterfly.

My favorite road for finding my first Mourning Cloaks of the year did not disappoint! Not a lot of variety but double figures is good.

60s!! Most snow now gone.

Had 2 Red Admirals very interested in our Box Elder Tree at around 11 am this morning.

Finally

How nice to be surrounded by butterflies again! Lots of commas and Mourning Cloaks as hoped for, but several surprises too. All of the commas spotted appeared to be gray commas. We saw one Compton Tortoiseshell, not a butterfly I've ever seen this far south in Wisconsin (good views so a positive ID, but no good photos). AND while going through my photos I spotted a Red Admiral in the same picture as a mourning cloak. Wasn't expecting that, so was surprised.

I am never this excited about seeing a cabbage white, but it has been a LONG winter!

No photo (but not a difficult i.d.). The latest date we've recorded for a FOY butterfly in our yard.

sunny and 45 degrees

sunny and 47 degrees

Sixty and sunny.

It was 44 degrees when I saw the Mourning Cloak and 45 degrees when I saw a Common Green Darner.

55 degrees and sunny.

51 degrees and cool north wind gusting to 20.

Sixty and sunny again.