Butterfly sightings for April 2020

Apr 1 2020

Pam Campbell

Location: Red Cedar Trail, south of Downsville
Dunn County

FOY! Sunny day, near 50 degrees.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 1 2020

Kathy Kascewicz

Location: Our driveway near Fifield
Price County

- sunny around 50

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 1 2020

Lynda Meyers

Location: Whitetail Ridge trail, River Falls, WI
St. Croix County

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 2 2020

Pamela Skaar

Location: Governor Nelson SP
Dane County

14:00 - 15:00, 1.2 miles. Very crowded with people - more than I have seen there in 20 years of using the park.

The Comma was puddling next to a very muddy spot in the trail.

Apr 2 2020

Dale Bonk

Location: Mazo Oak Barrens
Dane County

Apr 2 2020

Daniel Jackson

Location: Jackson Property just south of Chaseburg
Vernon County

Apr 2 2020

Sylvia Edlebeck, Joan Vennie

Location: Blue Mounds State Park
Dane County

Mourning Cloaks and commas. No photos, unfortunately, The butterflies were very busy moving around, especially the commas.

Apr 2 2020

Mike Reese, Nancy Nabak

Location: Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve - Goodwin Rd.
Manitowoc County

My first butterfly of the year!

Apr 2 2020

Eileen Scharenbroch

Location: North of Newburg
Washington County

There were several Mourning Cloaks fluttering around the backyard. It was the first sunny day in quite a while.

Apr 2 2020

Tim Fenske

Location: Blue Mounds SP
Iowa County

Compton Tortoiseshell

Compton Tortoiseshell

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Apr 2 2020

Patrick Ready

Location: Owen Park
Dane County

Walking through the woods.

Apr 4 2020

Peter Sveiks

Location: Town of Grand Chute - my yard
Outagamie County

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 5 2020

Pam Campbell

Location: Dunnville Barrens
Dunn County

Low 50s, breezy with filtered sun. FOY Commas and FOY Blandings turtle.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Brandings Turtle

Brandings Turtle

Apr 6 2020

Rich Kahl & Laurie Yahr

Location: UW Lakeshore Path/Wally Bauman Woods
Dane County

100% low, dark clouds; mid 50s; light winds. Comma landed on maple sapling for a taste, fluttered about and back to the sapling briefly, then fluttered to a leaning dead tree trunk with a cluster of dried bracket fungi underneath. Comma then "dove" directly into 1 of the larger brackets with curled edges where it obviously intended to stay. I had to crawl on my back underneath for pics.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Apr 6 2020

Jay Watson

Location: End of Wagner Rd.
Calumet County

First butterfly of the year for me flying along edge of the woods.

Apr 7 2020

Pamela Skaar

Location: Big Hill Token Creek Conservancy, Windsor, WI
Dane County

high humidity and cloudy some of the time.12:58 - 14:07, 1 mile through woods near water. 2 kinds of frogs were calling, turtles and water striders were out, lots of deer trails through the area. windy, but with temperatures in the 70s, I was hoping for more butterflies

Apr 7 2020

Pamela Hoyland

Location: Yard, 940th st, colfax.
Dunn County

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Apr 7 2020

Rory Williams

Location: Czech and County N
Waushara County

Went out looking for elfins. Saw one in the cold mist but I don't know what type

Apr 7 2020

Joan Vennie

Location: Blue Mound State Park
Iowa County

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Gray Comma

Gray Comma

Apr 10 2020

Edgar Spalding

Location: corn stubble field, south side of rte 14, one mile west of Beltline highway
Dane County

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Apr 11 2020

Mary Sobol

Location: McFarland
Dane County

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Apr 11 2020

David Wittrock

Location: Lac du Flambeau
Vilas County

Compton Tortoiseshell

Compton Tortoiseshell

★ = New county photo record

Apr 11 2020

Judith Huf

Location: Uihlein Park
Milwaukee County

Near the cattail pond 50 degrees and sunny

Apr 11 2020

Daniel Jackson

Location: Jackson Property just south of Chaseburg on County K
Vernon County

Apr 11 2020

Ryan Brady

Location: East of Clam Lake
Ashland County

Spotty snow cover yet but warm in mid-50s. Also had quite a few The Infant moths and a few Scarce Infant moths.

Scarce Infant

Scarce Infant

Infant Moth

Infant Moth

Green Comma

Green Comma

Green Comma

Green Comma

Compton Tortoiseshell

Compton Tortoiseshell

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

★ = New county photo record

Apr 11 2020

Mike Reese, Karen Oberhauser

Location: Abraham's Woods SNA
Green County

My first Mourning Cloak of the year. Spring Beauties, Blood Root, and Dutchman's Breeches were just starting to flower.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Dutchman's Breeches

Dutchman's Breeches

★ = New county photo record

Apr 11 2020

Lester Doyle

Location: Kettle Moraine State Forest - Ice Age Trail
Fond du Lac County

Sunny, mid-50's, mid-morning

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 11 2020

Karl and Dorothy Legler

Location: Sauk City
Sauk County

Found in our butterfly garden.

Apr 12 2020

Terry Mortier

Location: Pioneer Park, Hudson
St. Croix County

Warm calm sunny afternoon

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 18 2020

Karl and Dorothy Legler

Location: Lower Wisconsin Riverway northwest, of Mazomanie
Dane County

About 60 degrees.

Apr 18 2020

Pamela Skaar

Location: Yahara park Place neighborhood, Madison
Dane County

56 F, SSW wind 26 mph with higher gusts. FOY butterfly in neighborhood.

Apr 18 2020

Douglas Buege

Location: Cherokee Marsh
Dane County

Apr 18 2020

Peter and Charlotte Silvers

Location: Glacial Drumlin Trail going east from London
Jefferson County

After many attempts, our first butterfly of the year. Sunny, 58 deg., windy but the trail was sheltered.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

Apr 18 2020

Pat Fojut

Location: Wehr Nature Center
Milwaukee County

walking on muddy trail near College Avenue. north edge of nature center edge. near compost area.
butterfly sat for more than a minute on the mud.

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

★ = New county photo record

Apr 19 2020

Kathi Dwelle

Location: Our yard in Shorewood Hills
Dane County

Cabbage White was flying around the daffodils and bluebells.

Apr 19 2020

Skye Harnsberger

Location: Rush Creek family
Crawford County

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Apr 19 2020

Kate Redmond

Location: Riveredge Nature Center
Ozaukee County

In the woods near the ephemeral pond.

Apr 19 2020

Tod Highsmith

Location: East Side Madison
Dane County

My first backyard butterfly of the year.

Apr 19 2020

Pamela Skaar

Location: Smith Reiner Drumlin SNA
Dane County

Windy. No black spots on wings.

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Apr 19 2020

Mike Reese, Karen Oberhauser

Location: Spring Green Preserve SNA
Sauk County

I wanted to see if Olympia Marbles were flying and some were! I also got to see my first tiger beetles of the year, and a plant I have been looking for this spring Draba reptans.

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Round-lobed Hepatica

Round-lobed Hepatica

Big Sand Tiger Beetle

Big Sand Tiger Beetle

Obliqued-lined Tiger Beetle

Obliqued-lined Tiger Beetle

Festive Tiger Beetle

Festive Tiger Beetle

Round-lobed Hepatica

Round-lobed Hepatica

Carolina Whitlow-grass (Draba reptans)

Carolina Whitlow-grass (Draba reptans)

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 19 2020

Karl and Dorothy Legler

Location: Baxter's Hollow
Sauk County

Sunny and about 55 degrees.

Apr 20 2020

Mike Reese

Location: backyard in Madison
Dane County

My first Cabbage White of the year.

Apr 20 2020

Tod Highsmith

Location: East Side Madison
Dane County

My first cabbage white of the year, too.

Apr 20 2020

Patrick Ready

Location: Cherokee Conservation Park, Madison
Dane County

Dark, medium size butterfly with cream edges to wings. Mourning Cloak.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 20 2020

Jay Watson

Location: Backyard Rosecrans
Manitowoc County

In woods across the road.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 21 2020

Amy Chamberlin

Location: Moely Prairie, Prairie du Sac
Sauk County

First butterfly sighting on Moely Prairie this spring.

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Apr 21 2020

Halley Minser

Location: Root River Parkway, Franklin, WI
Milwaukee County

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 21 2020

Milwaukee County Parks Natural Areas Staff

Location: Root River PKWY section - 10
Milwaukee County

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Apr 22 2020

Stan Rehm

Location: Fitchburg residential butterfly garden
Dane County

First time ever for us to have a Cabbage White before a Mourning Cloak in the garden. Nectaring on Scilla.

Apr 22 2020

Bob Jacobson

Location: Jim Falls, north of hydro plant
Chippewa County

Sunny, mid 50s, light easterly breeze, mid afternoon. On island bounded by Old Abe Lake on the east and Chippewa River on the west. One Mourning Cloak along semi-shaded path through small woods. No photo.

Apr 24 2020

Skye Harnsberger

Location: Outside Rising Sun, family farm on Rush Creek
Crawford County

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Apr 24 2020

Douglas Buege

Location: Elbe road and Camp Four Lake road
Oconto County

Apr 24 2020

Daniel Jackson

Location: Jackson property - rural Chaseburg
Vernon County

Apr 24 2020

Douglas Buege

Location: Jones Spring Lane
Oconto County

Apr 25 2020

Marcie O'Connor

Location: Prairie Haven
Buffalo County

My first sighting of one of the Vanessa butterflies this year.

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Apr 25 2020

David Wittrock

Location: Lac du Flambeau, Statenaker Lake
Vilas County

Apr 25 2020

Rory Williams

Location: Czech and County N
Waushara County

Apr 25 2020

Bob Jacobson

Location: Bloomer, North City Park
Chippewa County

Mostly sunny, low 60s, light breeze, early afternoon. All activity on grassy area near trees and a creek.

Mustard White

Mustard White

Apr 25 2020

Dan & Mary Fisher

Location: Lowes Creek Road
Eau Claire County

Mourning Cloak, all over a very wet maple...

Apr 26 2020

Rory Williams

Location: Just south of Z and Country Club Road
Winnebago County

Apr 26 2020

Judith Huf

Location: Kletzsch Park
Milwaukee County

finally a warm sunny day. Stopped off for a brief bird walk about 11 am. My first Cabbage White of the season. I know they are common and not native, but still a joy to behold in dark times.

Apr 26 2020

Daniel Jackson

Location: Jackson property, hwy K south of Chaseburg
Vernon County

Apr 26 2020

Jay Watson

Location: End of Vista Dr. Porterfield
Marinette County

Seen while building pasture fence.

Apr 26 2020

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: 4 barrens along County Hwy X
Wood County

70-74 degrees F, sunny. 2.2 miles of transects. This is a complete list of what we saw.

Apr 26 2020

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: near Beetown
Grant County

All three were flying around in our yard and woods nearby. I was able to get photos of the Spring Azure as it was puddling in the garden bed I was watering. The Cabbage White flitted around the yard and at one point briefly stopped to nectar on two different violets. I also saw an Eastern Comma but was not able to take a photo.

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Apr 26 2020

Fred Dike

Location: Waltham Park
Dane County

Apr 26 2020

Lester Doyle

Location: Spring Green Preserve - West Side
Sauk County

Sunny, high 60's, Afternoon: The Olympia Marbles were on the move, never still enough to get a photo. No Tiger Beetles today, but did find a juvenile Northern Black Widow.

Northern Black Widow

Northern Black Widow

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Apr 26 2020

Kate Redmond

Location: Riveredge Nature Center
Ozaukee County

walked the river trail.

Apr 26 2020

Mike Reese, Karen Oberhauser

Location: Necedah NWR
Juneau County

Surprised to see a Painted Lady, the first in the state this year. Unusual because we still haven't seen an American Lady or Red Admiral this year.

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Festive Tiger Beetle

Festive Tiger Beetle

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Painted Lady

Painted Lady

Tricolored bumble bee

Tricolored bumble bee

Apr 26 2020

Tod Highsmith

Location: Lake Farm County Park
Dane County

Also saw my first Common Green Darner of the year.

Apr 26 2020

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens between Millston and Black River Falls
Jackson County

58 to 63 degrees F, sunny, about 6.75 miles of transect counting. Bauer-Brockway Area, Dike 17, Stanton Road, and one other area. We also saw 1 unidentified elfin.

Apr 27 2020

K. Java

Location: Crex Meadows SWA
Burnett County

67 degrees and sunny. The Olympia Marbles could not find anything to nectar on and were flying around a small patch of Bearberry.

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Apr 28 2020

Patrick Ready

Location: Gadwall Swamp (fed wetlands north of Stoughton)
Dane County

Seen at edge of woods in field.

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Apr 30 2020

Ann Thering

Location: My butterfly garden
Dane County

I also saw a Two-Spotted Bumble Bee enjoying prairie violets.

Apr 30 2020

Mary Roen

Location: Eau Galle Dam, Spring Valley, WI
Pierce County

This butterfly was flitting about on the trail on top of the Eau Galle Dam. It was 1:11 pm, about 68 degrees, sunny and windy.

Meadow Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

★ = New county photo record

Apr 30 2020

Bob Jacobson

Location: Hay Meadow Flowage Trail, north of 225th St., east of Cty Hwy AA
Chippewa County

Photographed among dried leaves near a pond formed by an earthen dam. Observed another individual near a sphagnum bog.

‘Spring’ Spring Azure

‘Spring’ Spring Azure

Apr 30 2020

Daniel Jackson

Location: Jackson Property on Hwy K just south of Chaseburg
Vernon County

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Apr 30 2020

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: In the yard by our cabin near Winter, WI.
Sawyer County

First butterflies I've seen this year. (Still haven't seen a butterfly near our home in Stoughton, WI.) Beautiful sunny 60 degree afternoon.

Apr 30 2020

Karl and Dorothy Legler

Location: White Mound County Park, South Lake Rd.
Sauk County

Sunny all day. 67 degrees. Windy. The Spring Azures were all males, puddling here and there on mud along the roadside. But two were found facing each other, up close, antennas in contact! I would have loved to see the transcript. We didn't have a camera with us.

Apr 30 2020

Mike Reese

Location: Hook Lake Wildlife Area
Dane County

Apr 30 2020

Edgar Spalding

Location: Pheasant Branch stream corrider, Middleton
Dane County

American Lady

American Lady

Apr 30 2020

Joan Rickert

Location: My yard, rural Medford
Taylor County

Apr 30 2020

Douglas Buege

Location: Setting Lake Road
Langlade County

Apr 30 2020

Douglas Buege

Location: Jones Spring Lane
Oconto County

Apr 30 2020

Dave Hogg

Location: Pleasant Valley Consrvancy
Dane County

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Apr 30 2020

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Pennsylvania Ave in Oak Creek
Milwaukee County

My FOY, was wondering when I was going to see one! I know Saturday will be a great day for butterflies.