Butterfly sightings for May 2020

Early afternoon, becoming cloudy. My first Eastern Tiger Swallowtail of the season. Glad that it decided to land for a photo after flying around for quite awhile.

Partly sunny, 67 degrees. Somewhat dry.

First butterfly in yard this season!

13:45 - 15:15, 65 - 64 F, S wind 6 - 10 mph. Started out overcast, then it sprinkled and finally it cleared and was sunny. Butterflies observed starting at 15:00.

Very windy and warm

at waterfront, cloudy day, temperature in upper 60's

Also saw a small brown butterfly that fluttered across the yard but not identified.

mid 70's mostly sunny, breezy

Flew through garden area

The Cabbage White was nectaring on our trillium and vinca. More importantly we have our first spike of milkweed (right next to the warm driveway), about midway between its earliest and latest appearances for the past 12 years.

I was there from 8 am untill 2 pm...hit both the East and West units. Cloudy and overcast...mid to high 60's most of the day.

Saw my First Bronze Tiger Beetles for this location on the West Side.

Breezy, warm, 70. Flight but seldom landed to nectar. Several Big Sand Tiger Beetles and Greater Bee Flies were along the trail.

64-75 degrees F, mostly sunny, wind 2-20 mph, about 10.5 miles of transect counting. Bauer-Brockway Area, Hunter Haven Road, Stanton Road, Dike 17, and one other area. We also saw 1 unidentified elfin and 2 unidentified duskywings.

Very windy and warm

Warm and sunny

At least 3 similar appearing butterflies flitting about just above vegetation.

70-74 degrees F, sunny, wind NW 5-30 mph. 1.2 miles of transects. One site was too windy for butterfly surveying. This is a complete list of what we saw. The Brown Elfin was in a different site from where we saw one on April 26.

my first American Lady of the year

Sunny windy 70 degree day. Cabbage white butterflies were on the move.

also saw two Grapevine Epimenis (moths)

Sunny, 51 degrees

Seen on old-field vegetation, which includes extensive Antennaria (Pussytoes) stands. Fresh, unworn specimen.

This butterfly was fllitting about in a grassland on our property.

Pretty cold in the morning. I drove for hours before I saw the first butterfly as temps soared up into the high 50s.

In wooded area near creek in valley.

Saw 1 a Olympic Marble flying near entrance then near the open prairie where lots of blooms were one landed. Also saw 2 Cabbage Whites.

Sunny, lower 60°s, winds 15 - 20 MPH.

13:03 - 15:34. Sunny and calm at beginning of walk but windy and partly cloudy at the end. Was hoping for some kind of elfin.

50's, wind was 1 mph and sunny

4 more "Ladys" and At least 8 other probable Olympia Marbles.

Sunny and 60's but becoming cloudy before I got to the western area.

This was my first visit here. The blue sky that I was hoping for went away before I got there and I only saw a Cabbage White on the way up the hill. There were lots of nectar sources, especially puccoon, but there is Columbine for duskywings, and Red Cedar for Juniper Hairstreaks, as well as rock cress for Olympia Marbles so I think all of them should be there. I am looking forward to checking this out again soon.

Was surprised to see a Painted Lady already. Outside with the boys wasn't able to get photos but had my binoculars and got good looks. Sunny and 60F, 5-10mph winds

Search of small peatland and adjacent forest/cutovers; also saw 2 duskywings zipping by - probably Juvenal's

sunny, windy, 55 degrees

Four sites in the park and one nearby. 62-66 degrees F, mostly sunny, wind NW 5-10 mph.

Sunny, breezy, 50 degree morning.

While walking Moely Prairie, an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail flew by is. It caught us by surprise and was too quick to get a camera shot.

4:00 pm, sunny and windy, 61. A faded American lady landed briefly in front of me, then took off and was taken from my sight by the wind.

Sunny, 53 F, windy. Neither individual landed long enough for a photo.

The Hay Meadow Flowage Trail is in the northern part of the county.

Temperature in mid-afternoon was only in the mid-fifties, and it was fairly windy. One had to find south-facing, protected areas to find butterflies. Painted Lady was just to the east of James Rd/Klots Rd junction, with one or two more. Saw several coyote scats, but there were no butterflies on them. Briefly saw one small dark skipper, possibly either a Sleepy or Dreamy Dusky Wing, but ID is very uncertain. Saw no elfins, nor any of the overwintering guys.

Mourning Cloak was basking on the only damp spot on the northern part of Stolte Road. Temperature only about 50 degrees.

3:00 pm, sunny and cool (47 degrees), also windy. A newly minted Pearl Crescent flew by and landed momentarily before taking off again.

Found In greenhouse. Released.

The Swallowtail flew ahead of me and landed in the grass. Note the fabulous coloring of a recently eclosed butterfly.

Walking the trail west of Lk Waubesa. Open woods and prairie.

Mostly sunny, windy and 50F

Madison city park trail. Saw butterfly land on path. Doc shot.

Temperature was 57 degrees, sunny and wind of 10 mph. We each mistakenly thought the other brought a camera. Ooops.

Sunny, high 50's, breezy. Beautiful day.

Pretty cold and windy, but sunny.

I opened my front door to go out and get the mail and this lovely Eastern Tiger was resting on the inside of the bottom of the storm door. I let it walk onto my hand so I could take it outside again. Luckily my cat didn't find it first!

All before noon, barely 45 degrees, sunny and breezy.

Haven't seen many butterflies in the yard this spring. These are my 2nd and third sightings

Mid afternoon, sunny, 55 F, wind NW 4

I was happy to see the Olympia Marble here! I tried my best to get a photo but it was dancing along on the steep hillside faster than I could move on a flat surface. I also saw my first Red Admirals of the year.

Pretty active, let me get really close. In southern dry-mesic forest at the edge of a farm field. Primarily box elder, garlic mustard, dead/dying ash, shagbark, oaks.

55 deg., sunny, calm. Nothing in the Butterfly Garden. The prairie plants were barely peaking out of the ground.

Also saw a lady that wouldn't sit still.

Only 1 butterfly seen during an hour's walk - a Red Admiral flitting appropriately around a patch of nettles.

Beautiful day - ferns uncurling, Great-crested Flycatcher calling. One of the Azures was on bird poop, one was a fly-by, and one was trying out a series of spring ephemerals.

3:00 pm, sun/clouds, 66 degrees, windy. Started sunny but quickly turned cloudy. Saw two butterflies (Eastern Tailed-Blue and Pearl Crescent) while still sunny, but with wind neither stayed still long enough to photograph. Also came across a dead snake with several carrion beetle species and some rove beetles on it, plus saw a clearwinged sphinx moth (snowberry clearwing?).

It was overcast and about 60 degrees when this wee one flitted past me. I was expecting it to be a Spring Azure, but was pleasantly surprised to see the little tails!

The only butterfly I saw on this rainy, damp, cool morning.

I haven't seen these in a few years, but they're still here!

Sunny, 61-77 degrees F, 15.5 to 16 miles walked. Every site is part of our Frosted Elfin long-term monitoring and has had at least one Frosted Elfin sighting before. Sites at Dike 17, near Brockway and Bauer Roads, west of Hunter Haven Road, and along Stanton Creek Road. We saw 3 Frosted Elfins in the westernmost mile of Stanton Creek Road and 4 Frosted Elfins in the first 0.9 miles (3 of the 4 were 0.6-0.9 miles out) of the wide pipeline ROW running along the west side of the ATV trail going northwest from Hunter Haven Road beginning 0.5-0.6 miles north of Stanton Creek Road. We also saw 4 unidentified elfins and 72 unidentified duskywings.

Of course I didn’t have my camera along while doing prairie restoration today, but the butterfly population came alive today given the warm temps and under sunny skies!

Warm, sunny, windy.

We saw two beautiful Scarlet Tanagers too.

multiple found along Indian Creek trail

13:45 - 17:30, 3.6 miles, sunny, low wind, 70s. Six of the eight Juvenals Duskywings were patroling the paths and fighting with each other. I tried to get photos but they show nothing of interest.

Spring again! I walked the trail to the ephemeral pond. Festive tiger beetles on the trail to the upper prairie.

Warm sunny afternoon.

The lake flies were so thick that the cabbages were flying erratic flights as they were being bumped mid air by the flies. A truly miserable time

6-spotted tiger beetles in the parking area.

two individuals, both males, I believe, but showing different amounts of black and blue above

Basically hit the same spots on Crex that I had visited on May 7. Olympia Marble numbers were way down. Simuliidae (Black fly) numbers were way up; they were pests. Crex needs a good soaking rain--there were simply no damp spots on the gravel roads. Each spring I gotta relearn Dusky Winged Skippers--hope these IDs are right. Afternoon temperature was about 65 degrees, wind was light.

Six people participated. Temperature was up to 73 degrees and it was sunny all day. These results are from 3 of the 4 parties on the Wazee NABA spring count. We saw 21 species and the Wazee Count totaled 25 species. (For the 4th party see Swengel's report.)

Sunny and around 70 degrees. Light wind.

Found along a dirt road through forested land, in the vicinity of ponds and sphagnum bogs.

Flying in the area, sunny and 70 degrees.

Sunny, 60-62 degrees F, about 0.45 mile walked. Checked the best areas we know for Jutta Arctic but we think it was several days too early to see one. Beginning about May 20 here the Juttas could be out.

Bright sun. Saw Tiger Swallowtail but could not make out which one as it was a rapid flyby.

Also one flyby Tiger Swallowtail.

Sunny with a light wind.

from 9:00 am till 4:00 pm...temp mid-50's to low 70's. Varied from sunny to cloudy and in between through out the day. Also had four species of Tiger Beetles: Six-Spotted, Festive, Big Sand, and Northern Barrens.

2.2 miles of transects. These are Frosted Elfin long-term monitoring sites near Sandhill Wildlife Area, but the last time we saw a Frosted Elfin in Wood County was in 2010. We also saw 5 unidentified duskywings.

My first swallowtail and crescent of the year

I watched the Columbine Duskywing lay this egg on a Columbine leaf. Unfortunately, the Gorgone wasn't as cooperative - I didn't get a photo.

Really crummy weather--cold and cloudy.

Great day for being here. Carrey Road has good wet spots where skippers and duskywings were flying.

Wooded opening near parking lot

2 Pearls landing in gravel in pull out near the stream.

Flying along roadside to entrance. Large orange & black butterfly. 1st of year sighting

Breezy, sunny, 65 degree morning. Disappointed to only see Cabbage White butterflies with so many spring wildflowers now blooming.

Included in the 9 Pearl Crescents I saw while walking the prairie, I witnessed two mating pairs.

Another individual of this species was observed a few miles south, along the Hay Meadow Flowage Trail, on the same day.

Saw Red-disked Alpine at 7:30 am--first flyer of the day.

Seen along bike trail east of town

We both saw the Monarch and agreed on ID; not a viceroy. I had a 2nd sighting of a Monarch a little later but could not rule out same individual.
Tiger swallowtail appeared very recently emerged; small "ruffles" in wings.

Little Canada trail head

60's, mostly sunny, calm

Two stops with a barrens on both sides of the road at each place. For several years Olympia Marbles seemed to colonize this area and Douglas County WA and become readily findable, but they've waned recently. We also saw 14 unidentified elfins.

4 spots north of County Hwy M, southwest of Solon Springs. We haven't seen a Chryxus Arctic here in several years. We also saw eleven unidentified elfins and 1 unidentified duskywing.

Sites near Forest Road 236. We also saw 3 unidentified elfins and 1 unidentified duskywing.

The bad news is that the Black Swallowtails have way too much food in the form of wild parsnip along the trail

Mid 60s and overcast. Hoary Puccoon is beginning to bloom. An Eight-spotted Forester moth and a few Tiger Beetles added interest to the day. There was also one Tiger Swallowtail.

Located along Hw Y north of town. Sand barren with cactus

Saw about a dozen azures and one large orange butterfly.

The day started very slow, with temps in the low 60's and cloudy. Then around noon, it started getting warmer and the sun was peeking out. It was like flipping a light switch. Next thing I know, butterflies are everywhere and it's 75 and sunny. The Frosted and Eastern Pine Elfins were seen along Stanton Creek Rd.

Nine sites north of Moose Junction along Hwy 35 (2), west of Hwy 35 on Foxboro-Chaffee Road, on Milchesky Road 1.15 and 1.9 miles west of County Hwy A, 3 sites along County Hwy A south of Amnicon Lake--North Bear, Bear, and Bear SW, and Lyman Lake Bog. Most of these bogs are described in "The Fascinating Butterflies of Northwestern Wisconsin Bogs", posted at the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association website www.naba.org/chapters/nabawba/watching.html
These are high Freija Fritillary numbers but low Brown Elfin numbers. 50 of the Freijas and 4 Red-disked Alpines were at Milchesky Road "1.75" (about a 0.7 mile survey route), which we now access by walking south from a landing 1.9 miles west of County Hwy A. 26 of the Freijas and 3 Red-disked Alpines were at Bear Creek bog (not north or SW) in a 1/2 mile survey. 33 of the Freijas, plus the only Jutta Arctic, were along a 1.25 mile rout we walked on Lyman Lake Bog.

Cloudy, 70 degrees F.

Very Cloudy. No Butterflies until around 1:30. Missed the Tiger Beetles.

Cloudy, 63-70 degrees F. Nine bogs 13-16 miles east of Fifield, most of them described in "Butterflies to Log in and near Northern Wisconsin's Bogs" that is posted at Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association’s website www.naba.org/chapters/nabawba/watching.html
Bogs surveyed were along Forest Road 137 1.1-1.2 (W side), 1.4-1.5 (E side), 1.9 (E), and 2.3 (E side, SW side) miles south of Highway 70; south of Forest Road 136 less than a mile west of Forest Road 505; Forest Road 505 1.7 (E side)and 5.4 (E) miles south of Highway 70, and Highway 70 0.5 miles east of Forest Road 137 (S side). The Freija Fritillary count is low but possibly this was late in the flight. Brown Elfins were very low, indicating that they are at the bottom of their approx. 4-year abundance cycle on Wisconsin bogs.

Overcast, about 60, with fog not far away. Two Monarchs - one alive and the other partially eaten.

Beautiful day. I shared the boardwalk with the larva of a Margined carrion beetle.

Many (25+) "Crescent" appearing butterflies but only took enough time from wildflowering and other living creature observing to ID 10.

Walking the trail and saw 2 Pearls. Overcast, 65 degrees

Found a couple species while girdling aspen in the prairie. The Red Admiral was laying eggs on nettles

Lupines were just beginning to bloom and were flush with bumblebees. Along the path were some butterflies.

Warm humid afternoon. Walking/driving along the road concentrating on patches of lupine. One low moist spot in the road produced most of the duskywings.

Met Joey Reichhoff and Terry Leasa at 9am and we left at 6pm. Weather was anywhere from cloudy to sunny with some light rain mid-day. An earlier rain wet the roadsides with some puddles on the gravel Roads...no way to accurately estimate the number of Gorgone Checkerspots and Duskywings seen since they were numerous at each spot we stopped, and along all the roads we traveled.

blueberry were in bloom and attracting pollinators. Found the elfin that was camera shy last time.

The Monarch and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail were both 2020 firsts for me. The American Lady was laying eggs on pussytoes.

First Monarch (male) and first Monarch egg of the year.

Two of the Black Swallowtails were mating in the air. Also saw an orange butterfly that could of been a fritillary.

High temperature was 83 degrees, mostly sunny and calm winds. Alfalfa field had about 30 Clouded Sulphurs. Note tiny moth beside the Gorgone Checkerspot. Upperside of Gorgone is Dorothy's photo. She also heard Dickcissels, Bobwhite and Cope's Gray Treefrog.

Finally saw our first Monarch today! (although didn't get a photo.)

Also saw a leech crossing the trail.

82 degrees; slight breeze; cloudy, then sunny.

All species found along Forest Road 137 2.3 miles south of Highway 70 (45.862428, -90.187172). This site was found by consulting A. Swengel's publication on NABA website. We also encountered 6 Frigga Fritillaries flying along road near intersection of FR 137 and ATV trail 121 (45.871388, -90.174033).

First spot was to east of Larson Rd, 0.1 mi south of North Boundary Rd. Several flighty Erynnis were seen, and a single Common Roadside Skipper photographed. Then on the south-facing slope to the south of Crex Ridge Road, I focused on a "blue" with my Papilios. Strong blue above, with no markings or tail, and I just caught a glimpse of a row of orange spots near the margin of the under hindwing. Then it was off, with no chance of a photo. But I'm certain that it was a Karner. There was plenty of lupine about. Curry Road, that was so productive for Doug Buege five days ago, was dry and dead butterfly-wise. Despite perching on a columbine, I think I was seeing a Mottled Dusky Wing. Also saw a large Phidippus jumping spider.

The Elfins were seen along Marsh Road. 65 degrees, mostly cloudy.

FOY MONARCH! Near 80 degrees with scattered thunderstorms. It crossed the road ahead of my car, moving north.

Gorgone Checkerspots were on several locations along the SNA. I am providing several pictures as I think this is a county record, The Giant Swallowtail was a surprise

80 degrees, breezy, sunny

Temps in the low 80s with sunshine and a slight breeze. We saw 3 Tiger Swallowtails but they did not land so we could not identify the specific type.

Spring Azures yesterday and today fluttering around the veggies I was planting.

Black swallowtail making the same patterned rounds around my house two days in a row (PHOTO).

May have seen an Eastern or Canandian Swallowtail, as well, but it was too quick to confirm.

1 Monarch browsing milkweed and parsnip.

1 Cabbage White.

2 unidentifed of same species. Small and orange. Never got a close look. They were quick.

5 Painted Lady butterflies, as well.

No Junipers yet, few flowers in bloom along roadside.

Walked the trail out to the woods at the base of the hill. Giant Swallowtail flew by me then circled in front of me and I got a good look at it from above. Not a Tiger Swallowtail, it had the patterns of Giant, yellow & black.

Hot & humid with temps in the mid 80s. Had a brief rain shower and then the sun came out. Besides the listed sightings, we saw 3 Tiger Swallowtails puddling, but they flew before we could tell which ones they were.

Visit cut short by thunderstorm. Also saw an orange skipper, maybe Hobomok, but too fast to identify.

Found 2 Monarch eggs on 10 plants

Still only seeing Cabbage Whites along the trail, but did see lots of other wildlife including Sandhill Cranes, turtles, a Baltimore Oriole, a humming bird, soaring hawks and a blue heron. Lots of wild phlox blooming. Warm and humid morning.

Thanks to Rich Kahl & Laurie Yahr who alerted me to the Fringed Puccoon. I saw my first of the year Tawny-edged Skipper nectaring on it! I also saw two Monarch eggs.

12 eggs found this morning on 8 milkweed plants in our garden.

While looking for butterflies, I managed to grab a quick photo of an Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle as well.

About 4 pm, 80 degrees. Variable skies.

Later afternoon, sunny, windy... 87 degrees.

Along the road, primarily at Black Hawk Rock trail head

FOY Monarch seen, depositing eggs on common milkweed.

Four sites in the park and one nearby. I also saw an unidentified tiger swallowtail.

Good year for Gorgone Checkerspots. Three sites and in three different counties for me so far this year

Walked through here a couple of days ago and didn't see any.

I saw four Holopogon robber flies in about twenty minutes.

Walked the trails SW, gravel with scat and fields with wildflowers. 6 Spotted Tiger Beetle found also. Partly sunny, 85.

The Giant Swallowtail was the smallest that I have ever seen. Smaller than the 2 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails that it was with.

My FOY Monarchs. Pearl Crescents were busy along the hiking trails.

One Monarch flew through the backyard early in the afternoon.

Primarily a robber fly trip. I saw my first one of the year, Holopogon sp. I also had a Steve Thiessen sighting!

70's, sunny, slight breeze. None of the butterflies took the time to land and have their pictures taken.

Finally saw a Red Admiral, she was depositing eggs on stinging nettles

Congratulations to Emily H. for an unbelievable day at Riley Lake!

Sunny 68 degree afternoon.

At least 8 species of butterflies observed while out dragonflying. Silvery Blue was by far the most abundant. Dozens present and very active.

Beautiful sunny morning with light winds to start. Very windy late morning and afternoon. I saw a lot of unidentified duskywings and blues that remain uncounted. Anything that got up in the wind disappeared quickly. Along the North side of North refuge rd between Larson rd. and Crex Ridge rd. and then along the South side of Crex Ridge rd. The wet part of Curry rd on the North end.

Before noon, 60 degrees and windy.

Saw a monarch float by and checked the nearby milkweed. I found five eggs in just a short search.

Stopped IDing ET Blues & Crescents for so many other marvelous plants & critters, so little time.

Around noon on a cool (50 degree) sunny day.

I witnessed a Monarch butterfly ovipositing on one of our fields of Common Milkweed today. I counted at least 8 eggs in the area and I'm sure there were a lot more. I also witnessed an American Lady who had so little wing left it was a wonder it could even fly.

One Frosted Elfin was found on the gravel road while the other was found on Sundail Lupine in the pipeline ROW mentioned in Ann Swengel's updated ResearchGate article. We also found a Phlox Moth along the road as well.

Mostly sunny, breezy, and in the 60's.

Nectaring on Ajuga (Bugleweed), puddling on bird poop.

Incidental sightings along roads while on long hike...also spotted two Tiger Swallowtails. Several unidentified duskywings were also noted.

Saw well over 50 duskywings but I forgot my binocs. Also saw a couple of White Spotted Sable Moths.

Cool but still saw a few butterflies while removing Dame's Rocket and garlic mustard

I videotaped some sandhill cranes with my iPhone while hiking. Later, when playing back the video, I realized a black swallowtail had flown through the frame. Sorry the quality is poor.

Sunny, Breezy mid 60's. Also saw a white striped black moth

Three species noted, including an unidentified duskywing. Several dragonflies also observered. No photos immediately available.

Not as much lupine in bloom as last year at this time. Morning was fairly cloudy. Also saw a number of Six-spotted Tiger Beetles.