Butterfly sightings for October 2021

Black Swallowtail caterpillar on a dill plant.

This butterfly was roosting on the steps of one of the motel's outdoor staircases, so I moved it to a safer location.

Hazy, low 80s, calm, late afternoon. Observed lots of activity in the unmowed strip along my driveway again today. The Monarch kept returning to the fresh thistle. This is the first time that I've seen a Bronze Copper.

warm

Partly sunny 75 degree morning.

This trail segment was surrounded by many alfalfa fields, which were full of sulphurs and Silver-spotted Skippers. Many of the skippers were dull and tattered.

Sunny, low 80s, breezy, late afternoon. Just one beautiful visitor spotted in my garden this afternoon. This is the first Red Admiral that I've seen.

When I asked for ID on a Wisconsin Butterfly/Moth FB page regarding photos I took today of a butterfly, I was guided to submit my sighting for a Common Checkered-Skipper Burnsius communis, as these are uncommon in the area I was in today. I only photographed the one I saw.

Overcast, no wind, 71 F.

Monarchs were on a stand of Mexican sunflowers, along with a few bumble bees.

Cloudy to almost sunny. 76 degrees.

For the past week it has been “sulphur-palooza”
Tons of suphurs have been flying everywhere. Today it was a banner day for Orange Sulphurs. The B. Swallowtail was a young caterpillar.

Cloudy most of the day but the sun came out at 4:00 and I saw a few butterflies on a walk

66 degrees and sunny. I just made one stop on Jimmy Carter Road when I noticed the Skippers flying.

59 degrees with heavy fog that didn't lift until 11:30 then the sun came out and temps went into the mid 70s. Ambush bugs are really taking a toll on the Purplish Coppers. I found 3 of them attacked but it was too late to save them. (See photo)

mostly sunny, 70s

Warm and Sunny about 10 am

Mostly sunny and in the mid - 70s. The azure was kind of beat up but when I went to try to photograph it, it flew over the tallest trees. All Red Admirals were on butterfly bush.

Sunny, mid 70's, no wind, early afternoon. A Red Admiral even landed on me. How lovely!

Sunny, 75 and breezy. Spotted a frayed frit and beautiful blue in the grassy strip along my driveway.

Dainty Sulphur - a rare and nice find for me in Wisconsin!

75 degrees, sunny.

Sunny, 70 degree day.

Walked the perimeter.

Sunny day with Tithonia (Mexican sunflower)
being the preferred flower

Sunny and 70.

Sunny, 78 degrees, breezy, afternoon. All pictures were taken in the unmowed strip along my driveway. The yellow bumblebee photo was taken in the same area but on 10/7 between rain showers. Typically I see numerous two-spotted bumblebees so this fellow caught my eye.

78 degrees and sunny. I had to turn my A/C on in the car. I made a few stops, mostly at water control structures that have Hoary Alyssum by them. The surprise was a Monarch. I hadn't seen one for weeks in this area.

mostly sunny, upper 70s, light breeze

The Compton Tortoiseshell was flying right near our cabin, landing on the wood siding. The other butterflies were flying along our trails stopping at any wildflower still in bloom. Sunny, 72 degree afternoon.

1:45, sunny, 72ﾟ

We saw this butterfly early this morning nectaring on a dandelion on a DNR trail in the Horicon Marsh. I think it is a clouded sulphur but perhaps it is a pink sulfur.

My first Common Checkered-Skipper since 2012! Also my first praying mantis in WI.

Very windy, mostly sunny, 75 degree day.

11:42-12:58, 72 F but cloudy with a 10 - 14 mph S wind, 1.4 mi. Not good butterflying conditions!

Three butterflies plus 357 migrating raptors.

Fiery Skipper was a male.

Sunny 65 degree afternoon.

Mid-afternoon, light winds, high 60s. I was pleased to see Monarchs, since I haven't seen many around town for a couple of weeks. I hope they'll have time and good winds for migration; it's getting late.

Sunny but low 60's and windy. Didn't see anything until around 11. Still windy and warmer around 1 but when I went back out to check at 4:30 that is when the wind died down and I saw the Common Checkered Skipper and the American Lady. . . Both species made me smile. Woohoo!

Sunny, 68 degrees, breezy, early afternoon. Noticed three Silver-spotted skippers on the zinnias this afternoon.

Temps 60s and sunny. Few nectar sources. About an hour 1-2:00pm.

Sunny, around 70

60s, sunny

Incidental while collecting and replanting seeds on the SNA. I am seeing more gynes (next years bumblebee queens) than I ever have before. May be because I am more in tune and not really a true increase in the number of gynes

While on a walk throughout my neighborhood I checked asters, cosmos, zinnias, etc. for butterflies, but saw only bees. Then found a lone Cabbage White on a late blooming dandelion.

Just a few butterfly observations while at the hawkwatch for about an hour and a half in the afternoon.

Sunny and 59-63

Disappointing results. And this is before the first freeze, which supposedly happens tonight. I thought we might find some Commas, Tortoiseshells, and Mourning Cloaks.

Windy and cool afternoon. The Clouded Sulphurs were seen along S. Williams rd. about 1 mile South of Grantsburg. The Purplish Copper was at the Reed Lake boat landing.

I like stopping here in the late fall to see what may be here. Not much this year on a beautiful sunny day with the temperature about 68. The area I stop is called A. R. Albert - Viletta Harley-Albert Horticultural Garden.

Sunny and 62

mid 60s, sunny, breezy

Sunny, warm, light wind

First AL since I don’t even know when. Also, my 2nd MC for this location.

Incidental while gardening

Sunny and 52-60

Terrible head wind!

Low of 30 degrees early today. Sunny and 65 degrees in the afternoon when I saw the Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly outside the cabin window. No other butterflies seen while out walking our fields and trails this afternoon.

Nectaring on a split tomato.

Sunny and about 55 degrees. Monarchs still migrating.

This baseball field often has Purplish Coppers nectaring on the dandelions or other weedy species in the outfield.

Sunny and 68
Notes: Again. Disappointing results.

60s, sunny, light breeze

Beautiful warm fall day. A bit windy at times. Definitely orange on the Sulphur when flying, but hard to tell in the photo.

I saw at least eight Great Spreadwings.

Sunny, 72 degrees, breezy, early afternoon. Spotted a Fiery Skipper on the thistle plant along my driveway. This is the first time that I've observed a Fiery Skipper. A single Red Admiral visited the garden again today along with a Silver-spotted Skipper.

I think this was the 3rd butterfly I've seen in over a month. Had dreams of a Checkered Skipper but I'll take it.

First female Fiery Skipper of the year for me.

upper 60s, sunny, light breeze

upper 60s, sunny, light breeze

62F, sunny, calm

11:08-12:35, 1.8 mi. This looks like a nice prairie and should have many butterflies next summer.

Sunny, 50 degrees, no wind, 12:30 -1:30.

Wow! A Buckeye. Only the second one reported this year. I never thought it would be on a cool late October day in a soccer field. It was a newly eclosed female.

60 and sunny, little wind. Saw a monarch flying low over the prairie heading south. :)

51 F about 2;30 pm

One near the barn, three in hayfield

Sunny, Low 50's, light breeze, between 1-3 p.m. Surprised and pleased to see the Common Checkered Skipper and really loved seeing about three dozen Cabbage White Caterpillars sunning themselves on Kohlrabi leaves left in the garden. Guess pulling the plants will have to wait until Spring now!

Sunny, 50s, slight breeze

Sunny and 58. Also saw my first Oil Beetle and many Autumn Meadowhawks.

Sunny, low 50's, no wind, between noon and 1 p.m. Once again the Cabbage White caterpillars were out sunning themselves.

Mid-day, low 50s partly sunny.

My cabbage white finally eclosed.

Sunny and 53.

Notes: Just a terrible headwind! It made it feel like 39 degrees instead of 59. I watched a newly eclosed male orange sulphur hang on for dear life. This may be the last species of the year. Looking at the forecast, it may be the last nice weather before a hard freeze. Maybe, I still might see a Mourning cloak. Happy Halloween everyone!