Butterfly sightings for May 2023

May 3

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Muscallounge Road near Beetown
Grant County

Sunny, breezy, but definitely not as windy as the last few days, with temps around 61 F between 2 and 3:30 p.m.

Meadow Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

May 3

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: Yahara River Trail in Admunson Park in Stoughton
Dane County

Hard to count the Cabbage Whites as most were flying and not landing. Also saw quite a few male Cardinals today. Beautiful sunny, 60 degree afternoon.

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

May 3

Bob Ring

Location: AriensCo Conservation Lands
Calumet County

Although not directly in the conservation lands, the butterflies were seen feeding on vinca and pachysandra by the office entrance to the plant.

Question Mark

Question Mark

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

May 3

April Stanke

Location: Sheridan Park
Milwaukee County

May 3

Sue Feyrer

Location: Retzer Nature center
Waukesha County

American Lady

American Lady

Question Mark

Question Mark

May 3

Beth Stetenfeld

Location: Lake Kegonsa State Park
Dane County

Calm, sunny day. Temps in the 50s. Wish I could have gotten closer or zoomed in with a better camera: All I had with me was my cell phone.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma

May 3

Mike Reese

Location: Adiantum Woods SNA
Grant County

low 60s, mostly sunny with less wind than the previous days. Surprised to see the Black Swallowtail flying at the top of the ridge over the Wisconsin River. First time I have visited this state natural area.

May 3

Jesse Peterson

Location: Town of Middleton residence
Dane County

May 3

Mike Reese

Location: Russell Hill
Grant County

low 60s, mostly sunny with less wind than the previous days

May 3

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon
Ozaukee County

I’ve been to Spirit Lake and Mequon Nature Preserve but haven’t seen anything. 47 and sunny.

May 3

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: My yard in Stoughton
Dane County

Sunny, 54 degree morning.

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

May 4

Ann Stilp

Location: AriensCo Conservation lands
Calumet County

Butterfly was seen on walking trail.

May 4

Mike Reese

Location: Crusonand Smith Slough Wildlife Area
Richland County

mid 70s and sunny

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 4

Ginny Nelson

Location: Stricker’s Pond
Dane County

May 4

April Stanke

Location: Brown Deer Middle/High School
Milwaukee County

May 4

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Sheridan Park
Milwaukee County

May 4

Marci Lanois

Location: Spring Green Preserve
Sauk County

2:30pm-:30pm - Temperature in the low 70s with a moderate breeze. Strong wind gusts on the east bluff.

May 4

Marci Lanois

Location: Wyalusing State Park
Grant County

Temperature in the high 60s. Mild breeze.

May 4

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: On a walk to and at Kopke's Outlet in Stoughton
Dane County

Sunny 65 degree early afternoon.

May 4

Terry Mortier

Location: Fish Lake SWA and Crex Meadows SWA
Burnett County

Warm (mid seventies), sunny, light wind to start -becoming windy. I was looking for olympia marbles and elfins. Evidently it is still too early, there was still snow in ditches in spots on Fish Lake rd.

May 4

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Muscallounge Road near Beetown
Grant County

Happy to see two Black Swallowtails. I was surprised I didn't find any Red Admirals because I have been seeing them almost daily, so I went back out to a sunny spot near some pine trees and found five at 6:30.

Sunny, with a gentle wind, between 4:00-4:30 with temps around 75 F.

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

May 4

Mike Reese

Location: Gotham Jack Pine Barren SNA
Richland County

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

★ = New county photo record

May 4

Tod Highsmith

Location: BT Farm property off Buckeye Road
Dane County

May 4

Terry Mortier

Location: Buffalo Skull Tract, Standing Cedars
Polk County

Warm, sunny, late afternoon.

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

May 5

Jesse Peterson

Location: Spring Green Preserve
Sauk County

9:00 am - 12:30 pm. 60 degrees to 72 degrees. Breezy south winds.

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 5

Joan Braune and Tod Highsmith

Location: Cherokee Marsh in Madison
Dane County

May 5

Stan Rehm

Location: Sub-Zero Wellness Walking Path
Dane County

Five happy Cabbage Whites have a 40-acre alfalfa field all to themselves (for now...)

May 5

Marci Lanois

Location: Marsh Creek Corridor of Lower WI State Riverway
Iowa County

2:30 PM, temperature in the mid 70s with a slight breeze

May 5

Rory Williams

Location: Emmons Creek
Waupaca County

Went looking for Cobweb Skippers. It appears maybe a week too early

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

May 5

Mike Reese

Location: Albany Sand Prairie and Oak Savanana SNA
Green County

first of the year Henslow's Sparrow

May 5

April Stanke

Location: River Barn Park in Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 5

Mike Reese

Location: Ridgeway Pine Relict State Natural Area
Iowa County

My first visit here. Partly sunny with temps near 70. 10:30-12:00. Several Eastern Towhee were calling and ignoring me. My first of the year Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blue-winged Warbler.

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

May 5

Mike Reese

Location: York Prairie SNA
Green County

first of the year Bobolink.\

Bobolink

Bobolink

May 5

April Stanke

Location: My Yard in Brown Deer
Milwaukee County

May 5

Marci Lanois

Location: Blue River
Grant County

Mid afternoon, temps in the mid 70s, slight breeze

May 5

Ethan Brown

Location: Baxter’s Hollow
Sauk County

Beautiful SNA but a disappointing lack of butterflies.

May 5

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 5

Pamela Skaar

Location: Honey Creek SNA
Sauk County

All butterflies were along the creek about 13:30 in the sunshine. One darker colored blue not positively identified.

May 5

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Grant Park - tennis court pond area
Milwaukee County

May 5

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Grant Park - Wil-o-way area
Milwaukee County

May 5

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Warnimont Park golf course
Milwaukee County

May 7

Rory Williams

Location: Plainfield Lake SNA
Waushara County

Went out looking for Cobweb Skippers. None were seen, spent 2 1/2 hours in the barrens. The Lake is as high as I have ever seen it, after decades of being WAY down. This site has freshly been burned, appears a planned burn as it is tilled all the way around the edge. About 1/3 of the property was burned

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

American Lady

American Lady

May 7

Mike Reese, Karen Oberhauser

Location: Schurch-Thomson Prairie
Iowa County

sunny, calm and near 80 degrees. All Red Admirals except one were headed north. The Orange Sulphur was a female laying eggs.

May 7

Ethan Brown

Location: Kettle Moraine Pike Lake Unit
Washington County

Admirals were everywhere today!

May 7

Ethan Brown

Location: Backyard in Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 7

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens in and near Sandhill Wildlife Area
Wood County

Seven sites that we monitor for elfins

May 7

Daniel Jackson

Location: Jackson Property about 1/4 mile south of Chaseburg off of County Road K
Vernon County

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 7

Jacob Collison

Location: Warnimount Park
Milwaukee County

Question Mark

Question Mark

Question Mark

Question Mark

May 7

Mike Reese, Karen Oberhauser

Location: Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area
Dane County

All Red Admirals were headed north fast.

May 7

Mike Reese

Location: south Madison; 7 mile walk 8:30-10:30
Dane County

May 7

Pamela Skaar

Location: Cherokee Lake from Burningwood Way, Madison
Dane County

3 hr 39 min, 2.19 miles starting at 6:53 AM

May 7

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 7

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Warnimont Park golf course
Milwaukee County

May 8

Dean Hansen

Location: Stolte Road, Fish Lake SWA; Crex Meadows
Burnett County

Single Mourning Cloak seen above Stolte Road on Fish Lake SWA. I checked several spots on Crex Meadows but saw only a single butterfly, and that was flying rapidly by. Only forb in flower was the occasional Prairie Buttercup. Sighting highpoint was the King Cobra Wannabe, aka Puff Adder or Hog Nose Snake on the road right at the Crex Visitors' Center.

Eastern Hognose Snake

Eastern Hognose Snake

Prairie Buttercup

Prairie Buttercup

May 9

John & Susan Winegarden

Location: Lawin Sedge Meadow SNA
Chippewa County

First day of seeing mustard whites in the area, on blooming Am. yellow rocket flowers

Mustard White

Mustard White

Mustard White

Mustard White

May 9

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon Nature Preserve
Ozaukee County

May 9

Douglas Buege

Location: Camo Four Lake Ln
Oconto County

First azure was on a dead raccoon--a visceral butterfly.

May 9

Mike Reese

Location: Hardscrabble Prairie SNA
Lafayette County

Not really much in flower except blue-eyed grass sp., but I did see one patch of my Violet Wood Sorrel and on flower of Fringed Puccoon.

blue-eyed grass sp.

blue-eyed grass sp.

Fringed Puccoon

Fringed Puccoon

Violet Wood Sorrel

Violet Wood Sorrel

May 9

April Stanke

Location: River Barn Park in Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 9

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: In yard and on the road by our cabin in Winter
Sawyer County

Finally saw a few butterflies after 4 days of cleaning up the many branches and trees down on our property from all the winter storms. Things are starting to green up, but just a few nectar sources, such as bloodroot and hepatica, are available. Sunny 68 degree afternoon.

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

May 9

April Stanke

Location: My Yard in Brown Deer
Milwaukee County

May 9

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens in and near Mirror Lake State Park
Sauk County

Five patches in the Park and one nearby. We also saw two unidentified duskywings.

May 9

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Muscallounge Road near Beetown
Grant County

The apple tree blossoms were very popular today. Kept seeing the Swallowtails, but they were not cooperating for photos. Went back to try again around 6 p.m. and was successful! Also spotted my first Monarch of the year. This is five day earlier than last year for me.

Calm and beautiful sunny afternoon with temps in low 70's.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Monarch

Monarch

Silver-bordered Fritillary

Silver-bordered Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 9

Molly Fifield Murray

Location: Section 4 Springdale township
Dane County

Black Swallowtail in home garden.

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

May 9

Kyle Johnson

Location: Avon Bottoms
Rock County

Looking for the southern spring azure (Celastrina ladon) which has yet to be documented in WI, but occurs in adjacent states near our borders (including Winona Co. Minnesota). No luck this time.

May 9

Daniel Jackson

Location: Halfway Creek Marsh just west of Midway
La Crosse County

May 9

Rory Williams

Location: Oshkosh Larsen Prairie SNA
Winnebago County

Three Six Spotted Tiger Beetles. Wood Anemone, Prairie Smoke were blossoming with Golden Alexanders starting to show yellow.

Prairie Smoke

Prairie Smoke

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

May 9

Daniel Jackson

Location: Bike trail off of Sunset Vista Rd, Onalaska
La Crosse County

Meadow Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

Festive Tiger Beetle

Festive Tiger Beetle

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

May 10

Jacob Collison

Location: Bauer-Brockway Barrens SNA
Jackson County

Incredible numbers of Marbles and Elfins

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

May 10

Douglas Buege

Location: Farm on Star Lake Rd
Oconto County

May 10

Ann Thering

Location: Pheasant Branch Conservancy
Dane County

Observed while birding. The Snout was a nice surprise!

May 10

Joan Rickert

Location: My yard, rural Medford
Taylor County

Warm weather finally! 77° mostly sunny.

May 10

Jacob Collison

Location: Stanton Creek Rd
Jackson County

With the sighting of Frosted Elfin completed a 5 Elfin day!

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

May 10

Rich O'Connell

Location: Boerner Botanical Gardens
Milwaukee County

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

May 10

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Stanton Creek Rd
Jackson County

We found the Frosted Elfin for a 5 Elfin day!!!

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

May 10

Douglas Buege

Location: Jones Spring Road
Oconto County

May 10

John & Susan Winegarden

Location: Seyomur sands
Eau Claire County

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

May 10

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Bauer-Brockway Barrens SNA
Jackson County

Excellent day walking the Barrens! Jacob and I walked this area for almost 5 hours. It was sunny and hot! We are 99% sure we had a Silvery Blue, but never got to see it still.

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

May 10

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon
Ozaukee County

Sunny and 72

May 10

Mike Reese

Location: Several stops along Brockway Rd.
Jackson County

I didn't see a single duskywing!

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

May 10

April Stanke

Location: My Yard in Brown Deer
Milwaukee County

May 10

Bob Ring

Location: AriensCo conservation lands
Calumet County

74° south wind at 12 mph. Butterflies seen in flight throughout conservation lands.

May 10

Lester Doyle

Location: Spring Green Preserve
Sauk County

Sunny, in the 70's. The Columbine Duskywing was seen while while observing a sunning timber rattlesnake. At one point the butterfly landed on the snake (see photo). The Butterfly was first seen around 11:00 am constantly landing/leaving on columbine plants (laying eggs?) I tried to get a picture of the Butterfly on its host plant, but could not because of it constantly landing/leaving (laying eggs?), and vegetation obstructed views.

Columbine Duskywing

Columbine Duskywing

Columbine Duskywing

Columbine Duskywing

Columbine Duskywing

Columbine Duskywing

Columbine Duskywing

Columbine Duskywing

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 10

Daniel Jackson

Location: Jackson property just south of Chaseburg
Vernon County

May 10

Douglas Buege

Location: Near Wichser Lake, off Saul's Spring Rd
Langlade County

May 10

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens between Millston and Black River Falls
Jackson County

Sites along Bauer, Brockway, Hunter Haven, and Stanton Creek Roads, at Dike 17, and one other area. We walked 14 miles of transects at elfin monitoring plots. The Olympia Marble count is not very high for that much effort, but maybe the brood is well pre-peak. We also saw at least 19 unidentified elfins and two unidentified duskywings.

May 11

Rich Kahl & Laurie Yahr

Location: Madison
Dane County

May 11

April Stanke

Location: My Yard in Brown Deer
Milwaukee County

May 11

April Stanke

Location: River Barn Park in Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 11

Mike Reese

Location: Swamplovers Preserve
Dane County

My first Monarch of the year! Laying eggs on Whorled Milkweed?

Monarch

Monarch

May 11

Dean Hansen

Location: Crex Meadows SWA
Burnett County

Parked 1/4 mile east of Co. F on Larson Road, walked south onto old field vegetation. Saw 6 Olympia marbles in 6 minutes. Several patches of Antennaria were coming into bloom. Checked SW corner where Larson Road turns north, saw two FOY elfins, positively identified one as a Hoary Elfin. Saw 2 more Olympias here.

rock cress sp.

rock cress sp.

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

pussytoes sp.

pussytoes sp.

May 11

Steve Engber

Location: Western Madison
Dane County

Monarch, around noon at Shefford and Carnwood

May 11

Mike Reese

Location: south Madison
Dane County

May 11

Ann Stilp

Location: AriensCo conservation lands
Calumet County

81° sunny and south winds 6-10 mph.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 11

Dean Hansen

Location: Fish Lake SWA
Burnett County

Checked ROW under power line, north side of Co. O just west of East River Road. Saw two FOY Olympia marbles in flight. Saw no butterflies anywhere along Stolte Road. First Arabis lyrata, first violet, first strawberry blooms, but these few and far between.

May 11

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Between Fennimore and Muscallounge Road near Betown
Grant County

My husband, Bill, came home to tell me he had already seen four Monarchs today so we needed to go try to spot one more before the day was over. Around 6 p.m. we spotted one and found ten eggs on Milkweed shortly after.

Monarch

Monarch

May 11

Douglas Buege

Location: Farm on Star Lake Rd
Oconto County

May 11

Rich Kahl & Laurie Yahr

Location: Olson Oak Woods SNA
Dane County

May 11

Tod Highsmith

Location: East Side Madison
Dane County

May 11

Tod Highsmith

Location: Ho-Nee-Um Pond, UW Arboretum
Dane County

May 11

Stan Rehm

Location: Grady Tract of the UW Arboretum
Dane County

Disappointingly few BFs on a perfect day. But the Grady Tract itself continues to improve with removal of trees and underbrush and the creation of open savannah areas - should evolve into great butterfly territory in the years ahead.

May 11

Joan Rickert

Location: My yard rural Medford
Taylor County

May 11

Kyle Johnson

Location: Ridges Sanctuary
Door County

Biodiversity surveys at The Ridges; filtered sun hampered butterfly activity. Good potential for other elfins.

☆ = New county sighting record

May 12

Terry Mortier

Location: Fish Lake SWA, Hickerson rd. and Stolte rd.
Burnett County

Late morning was Cloudy, scattered rain showers, 65 degrees. I didn't see any butterflies early. After going to Crex Meadows I drove down Stolte on the way home at around 5 PM it was drier and warmer. I saw the silvery blues and one "spring" spring azure puddling on the road at that time.

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

May 12

Terry Mortier

Location: Crex Meadows
Burnett County

Cloudy, scattered showers, looking for Olympia marbles and elfins. I saw one monarch fly by.

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

May 13

Terry Mortier

Location: Bauer-Brockway Barrens SNA
Jackson County

Cloudy, cool, occasional rain showers. My 1st visit to this site. All butterflies were seen during a brief 1/2hr. break in the clouds late in the afternoon. I also saw two unidentified elfins and one unidentified blue.

American Lady

American Lady

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 13

Ethan Brown

Location: Retzer Nature Center
Waukesha County

Partly sunny and 68.

May 13

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 13

Ethan Brown

Location: Southern Kettle Moraine
Jefferson County

May 13

Lynn Erickson

Location: Town of Marion, near Castle Rock dam
Juneau County

While working in the garden, I noticed two Eastern Tiger Swallowtails visiting my blossoming apple tree about 2 pm when the sun was trying to peek out and the temps rose to about 70. The butterflies visited separately but in close succession to each other and both moved quickly and efficiently from blossom to blossom. My blueberry bushes are also blooming in the same general area(see pic). I have my electric fence up to fend off the deer, but I'm not counting on apples or blueberries just yet.

blueberry flowers

blueberry flowers

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 13

Edgar Spalding

Location: Graber Pond in Middleton
Dane County

late afternoon, the only lep I saw was this well-worn Question Mark

Question Mark

Question Mark

May 13

April Stanke

Location: River Barn Park in Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 14

Terry Mortier

Location: Crex Meadows
Burnett County

Sunny, light wind lower sixties, One very quick stop to check the corner on Larson Rd. that Dean Hanson mentioned in his 5/11 sighting. The elfins were on some small patches of bearberry Southwest of the corner.

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

May 14

Terry Mortier

Location: Stolte rd. Fish Lake SWA
Burnett County

Late morning, 61 degrees, sunny, light wind. A couple quick stops on Stolte Rd.

Sleepy Duskywing

Sleepy Duskywing

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

May 14

Ryan Brady

Location: FR164 east of Cty Hwy GG south of Clam Lake
Ashland County

May 15

Lynn Erickson

Location: Town of Marion, near Castle Rock Dam
Juneau County

Sunny, 69 degrees, observed while taking a late afternoon walk in the woods.

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

May 15

Nansi Colley

Location: UW Arboretum
Dane County

First Monarch Butterfly of the Season!

Monarch

Monarch

Monarch

Monarch

May 15

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: My yard in Stoughton
Dane County

Sunny 65 degree late morning.

May 15

Mike Reese

Location: Rock River Prairie SNA
Rock County

My first American Copper and Pearl Crescents of the year. 11 of the Crescents were males.

American Copper

American Copper

American Lady

American Lady

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

May 15

April Stanke

Location: N Fieldwood Rd in Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 15

Tod Highsmith

Location: UW Arboretum, Longenecker Gardens and environs
Dane County

May 15

Rich Kahl & Laurie Yahr

Location: Elver Park, Madison
Dane County

May 15

Mike Reese

Location: Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area
Rock County

quick stop to check for Wild Indigo Duskywing. There is much more Crown Vetch here than when I first saw them at this location. Saw my first Eastern Forktail of the year.

May 15

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon Nature Preserve
Ozaukee County

My earliest monarch ever!

May 15

Ethan Brown

Location: Private residence
Ozaukee County

RA was sitting on the flag pole!

May 15

April Stanke

Location: Brown Deer Middle/High School
Milwaukee County

May 16

April Stanke

Location: Brown Deer Middle/High School
Milwaukee County

May 16

Wazee NABA Spring Count

Location: Bauer-Brockway Barrens and Black River State Forest
Jackson County

This was the 17th annual NABA Spring Butterfly Count at Bauer Brockway Barrens and Black River State Forest, in Jackson County. It is conducted by Ann and Scott Swengel and the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association (SWBA), a chapter of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). The temperature was 63 - 79 degrees. The sky was whitish "smokey-sunny" due to high smoke from Canadian forest fires. Eight observers in 4 parties used close-focusing binoculars and cameras to identify 885 butterflies of 22 species. 885 is the 2nd highest of the 17 years. The 22 species is exactly average. The most abundant butterflies were Olympia Marble, Spring Azure and Eastern Pine Elfin. (All 5 species of Elfins were seen.) Scarcest butterflies were Cabbage White, Black Swallowtail, Orange Sulphur and Meadow Fritillary.
Thanks to counters Ann and Scott Swengel, Mike Reese, Douglas Buege, Donna Williams-Richter, Pam Skaar, Karl Legler and Fred Dike.

Sleepy Duskywing

Sleepy Duskywing

May 16

Rich Kahl & Laurie Yahr

Location: Rettenmund Prairie SNA
Dane County

May 16

Rory Williams

Location: Hartman Creek State Park
Waupaca County

Went looking for Cobweb Skippers did not see any, but one skipper looked promising as it dove into the grasses but then escaped through the woods which is not a Cobweb trait. Quite a bit of the central barrens had been burned in the last couple days, looked like a planned burn as crew was still present and tilled around edge. Four six spotted Tiger Beetles. My first sightings of Henry's Elfins ever. Several sightings of species that I did not know but they were camera shy

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

prescribed burn

prescribed burn

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

American Lady

American Lady

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 16

Thomas Schultz

Location: Pine Road, NE of Princeton
Green Lake County

A few individuals were spotted along this gravel road -- landing on the gravel in sunny spots and tilting to the side, apparently to catch the sunlight.

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 16

Jesse Peterson

Location: Black Earth Retyenmund Prairie SNA
Dane County

Noon to 2:30pm. Sunny, 75 deg, NNW winds at 15 mph. The prairie is starting to come to life.

May 16

Dean Hansen

Location: Fish Lake SWA
Burnett County

Quick swing down Stolte Road, late afternoon. FOY duskywing skipper at damp road gravel. Blueberry flowers opening, and some very nice patches of birds' foot violet also in bloom. Saw just a couple single hoary puccoon blooms, then saw a surprising patch in full bloom. Several "blues" refused to land long enough to be photographed or even positively IDd.

Hoary Puccoon

Hoary Puccoon

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 16

Lynn Erickson

Location: Town of Marion, near Castle Rock dam
Juneau County

Sunny, almost 80 degrees and breezy. Noticed the Duskywing in a flowerbed sunning around 10 am. Spotted the rest along my driveway about noon. This is the first time that I've spotted and photographed an Olympia Marble!

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

May 16

Kyle Johnson

Location: Twin Pines Barrens
Oconto County

Filtered sun and wind hampered butterfly activity

Sleepy Duskywing

Sleepy Duskywing

★ = New county photo record

May 16

Pam Campbell

Location: Red Cedar Trail near Downsville
Dunn County

First Swallowtail and first Tiger Beetles for the year.

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

May 16

April Stanke

Location: Brown Deer Middle/High School
Milwaukee County

May 17

Jay Watson

Location: CTH I & Mirror Lake Rd Barrens ROW
Marinette County

Filtered sun, 61F, calm

American Lady

American Lady

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

May 17

Jay Watson

Location: Dunbar Barrens SNA
Marinette County

Traveling Survey; Duration: 1 hr, 31 min; Distance: 6.44 miles. Filtered sun, 5mph, 60F, bumble flower beetle 1; unknown tiger beetle (either six spotted or northern barrens) 1; Sand cherry open in some patches but just starting to flower overall, bearberry full bloom, blueberries starting to bloom some got hit by frost last night.

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

May 17

Rich Kahl & Laurie Yahr

Location: Mazo Oak Barrens SNA
Dane County

May 17

Skye Harnsberger

Location: 52611 Rush Creek Rd.
Crawford County

Transitional morph (?)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 17

Jay Watson

Location: Old County Road A & Four Corners area
Marinette County

Filtered sun cause smoke, calm, 50F

May 17

Kyle Johnson

Location: Bailey Lake Bog (aka Wolf Lake Bog)
Forest County

Filtered sun hampered butterfly activity; insect phenology appears well beyind that of plants and degree days. All Freija were fresh males.

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

habitat photo

habitat photo

★ = New county photo record

May 17

Mike Reese

Location: Borah Creek Prairie SNA
Grant County

Sunny and 65 degrees; 12:30-2:00. Also heard my first Dickcissel and Bell’s Vireo of the year.

Violet Wood Sorrel

Violet Wood Sorrel

Meadow Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

May 18

Lynn Erickson

Location: Town of Marion, near Castle Rock dam
Juneau County

Sunny, gusty winds, mid-70s. Took a leisurely hike through our woods and spotted a wide variety of butterflies. It seems to be a very good year for the Azures. I positively identified 2 that lingered on the ground but witnessed at least a dozen other blues flying too high to ID. The Admiral was a nice surprise, the first this year. No Olympia Marbles today. I've also included a picture of a predatory insect that visited my garden yesterday.

Crane Fly sp.

Crane Fly sp.

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

May 18

Lindsey Dalton

Location: Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie SNA
Dane County

Seen between 2:30 and 3:30, low 70s, sunny, winds 14 mph. The prairie has exploded into bloom since 2 weeks ago. Lots of hoary puccoon and shooting stars. The Black Swallowtails liked being on top of the hill. They seemed to enjoy being near each other, but fought when they got too close to each other.

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

May 18

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens in and near Mirror Lake State Park
Sauk County

2:15 hours. 5 sites in the park and 1 near the park. We saw no butterflies at the site near the park. This is possibly our highest Pine Elfin total for these sites, especially the 16 found on one long survey walk west of Hastings Road. The Tiger Sw. was a dark form.

May 18

Sandy Vorpahl

Location: Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit
Fond du Lac County

Haushalter Ln.

Juniper Hairstreak

Juniper Hairstreak

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Juniper Hairstreak

Juniper Hairstreak

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 18

Pamela Skaar and Chris Tyler

Location: Spring Green Preserve - East
Sauk County

11:26 - 12:53, 1.84 miles

May 19

Ethan Brown

Location: Bender Park
Milwaukee County

Hazy and 68.

May 19

Ethan Brown

Location: Grant Park
Milwaukee County

May 19

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Lake Park
Milwaukee County

May 20

Douglas Buege

Location: Near Wichser Lake
Langlade County

Some toothwort in area.

West Virginia White

West Virginia White

May 20

Mike Reese

Location: south Madison
Dane County

May 20

Kaona Koehn

Location: Wisconsin Rapids
Wood County

a bit windy out!

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 20

Terry Mortier

Location: Bauer Brockway SNA, Stanton Creek Rd.
Jackson County

Warm, sunny, Light wind becoming windy. I quit counting and identifying duskywings and blues early as they were slowing me down. I was looking for frosted elfins. I think I did manage to find three using the black dot near the tail as an identifier. I saw a lot of elfins that went unidentified.

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Meadow Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

May 20

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Muscallounge Road near Beetown
Grant County

The Pearl Crescent's found a dead raccoon.

Monarch

Monarch

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

May 20

Rory Williams

Location: Amberg SWA
Marinette County

8 Six-spotted Tiger Beetles

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 20

Dean Hansen

Location: Namekagon Barrens
Burnett County

An unnamed two-track "road" leads east from Dry Landing Road just north of where the latter crosses Clemens Creek. We checked extensive stands of bearberry to the north of this road and saw no butterflies. We then stopped by some large red pines on the south of the road, and here we were able to find elfins courting. I think that the large pines somehow make this spot a "butterfly lek" of sorts--over several years I have consistently found butterflies courting here when they were not seen on larval host plants or nectar sources elsewhere nearby. Site is at 46° 08' 06" N, 92° 04' 58" W. Check it out. We also saw two undetermined moths and a single "Lady" who refused to land and be IDd.

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

May 20

Dean Hansen

Location: Various stops on Crex Meadows SWA
Burnett County

A group of 12 butterfliers hit Crex Meadows Saturday morning.
Olympia Mables were fairly common at all five stops. A dirt road leads south from Reed Lake Road to a landing on Reed Lake. Some animal--beaver, muskrat, whatever--leaves deposits of dung or castor (?) near the shore, and this consistently attracts butterflies, as with these Duskywings. Several Sleepy/Dreamy Duskywings went undetermined. The Persius was a positive ID.
No Commas, Question Marks, and Tortoiseshells were seen.

American Lady

American Lady

duskywing sp.

duskywing sp.

duskywing sp.

duskywing sp.

duskywing sp.

duskywing sp.

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

May 20

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Douglas County Wildlife Area
Douglas County

4 barrens patches. 40 minutes.

May 20

Lindsey Dalton

Location: Mirror Lake State Park
Sauk County

All were seen in and around a large field of lupines next to the Turtleville Trail.

American Lady

American Lady

American Copper

American Copper

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

May 20

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens south of Brule
Douglas County

2 areas with two patches each

May 20

April Stanke

Location: Private Property Cty Hwy T Rosholt
Portage County

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

American Lady

American Lady

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 20

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Bogs between Moose Junction and Amnicon Lake
Douglas County

8 bogs: two north of Moose Junction, 1 on Foxboro-Chaffee Road, two on Milchesky Road, two "Bear Lake" bogs on County Hwy A, and Lyman Lake Bog.

May 20

Daniel Jackson

Location: Sandhill State Wildlife Area
Wood County

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

May 20

Alex Lehner

Location: Tri-county Corridor, west of Ashland
Ashland County

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

May 20

Dean Hansen

Location: Bog to east of Namekagon Trail, 3/4 mile north of crossing of Namekagon River
Burnett County

Brown elfins and a two species of moths were present on the bog or on the sand of Namekagon Trail. Photos by Brian Shapiro.

Black Banded Orange

Black Banded Orange

Bluish Spring Moth

Bluish Spring Moth

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

May 20

Douglas Buege

Location: Saul Springs Rd
Oconto County

Dreamy Duskywing

Dreamy Duskywing

Green Comma

Green Comma

May 20

Douglas Buege

Location: Farm on Star Lake Rd
Oconto County

May 20

Pamela Skaar

Location: McCarthy Youth and Conservation Park, Cottage Grove, WI
Dane County

9:21 - 11:17, 2.2 miles, sunny and windy

May 21

Mike Reese

Location: south Madison
Dane County

Sunny, near 80 degrees. Mostly along bike path from the beltline north to Glenway. 2:00-3:15

May 21

Chad Smith

Location: Beloit, WI
Rock County

My wife and I took our dog for a walk in the woods next to our home and saw a female flying in a large patch of Dame's Rocket.

May 21

Jesse Peterson

Location: Residential yard, Town of Middleton
Dane County

Sightings while doing yard work from 8:00am-2:30pm.

May 21

Ethan Brown

Location: Catholic Ecology Center
Dodge County

Also saw 20 Red Admiral cats.

☆ = New county sighting record

May 21

Ron Endres, Karen Oberhauser, Mike Reese

Location: Private lands in Verona
Dane County

May 21

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Muscallounge Road near Beetown
Grant County

Shoutout for Creeping Charlie also known as ground ivy! I saw a Monarch visiting it for nectar! I have also seen a Red Admiral doing the same. With limited nectar sources it seems to be one that butterflies use!

Monarch

Monarch

May 21

Ethan Brown

Location: Catholic Ecology Center
Dodge County

Forgot to add these.

May 21

Pam Campbell

Location: Hoffman Hills SRA
Dunn County

May 21

Rory Williams

Location: Oshkosh Larsen Prairie SNA Oakridge Segment
Winnebago County

FOY Monarch, Black Swallowtail and Silver Spotted Skippers. The Monarch was flying due south at a high rate of speed ???

May 21

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Hogback Ridge SNA
Crawford County

Both The American Lady and the Wild Indigo Duskywing appeared to be laying eggs. There was limited Cream False Indigo blooming but tons of Golden Alexander and Columbine that no pollinators seemed to be visiting.

Sunny with a light wind with temps around 80.

Cream Wild Indigo

Cream Wild Indigo

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Wild Indigo Duskywing

American Lady

American Lady

May 21

Pamela Skaar and Chris Tyler

Location: Laws Drive, Mazomanie. WI
Dane County

7:36 - 9:58, 0.9 miles

May 21

Pamela Skaar

Location: Lower WI River, Mazomanie Dog Trial Grounds
Dane County

10:27 - 11:53, 1.5 miles

May 21

Karl and Dorothy Legler

Location: Sauk City.
Sauk County

77 degrees. Sunny. In our yard.

May 21

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Caroline Lake bog
Iron County

May 21

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Riley Lake bogs
Price County

9 bogs 12 to 16 miles east or ESE of Fifield whose locations are described on page 3 of the butterfly site guide “Butterflies to Log in and near Northern Wisconsin’s Bogs” by Ann Swengel at the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association website http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabawba/watching.html Neither today nor on a repeat attempt here May 28 did we get any traction on Freija Fritillaries; we think they and red-disked Alpines are having a low fluctuation year. Both of these species are usually less abundant after very snowy winters, as was 2022-23 here.

May 21

Fred Dike

Location: Blue Mounds St Park
Iowa County

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 22

Douglas Buege

Location: Westphall Lake Ln
Oconto County

May 22

Douglas Buege

Location: Along Bachman Rd, 1.8 miles S of Bear Paw Rd
Oconto County

Fantastic spot--still wet while dry elsewhere! No comma slam but feels like hitting six homers.

May 22

Mike Reese

Location: Blue River Sand Barrens SNA
Grant County

This was my first Dusted Skipper in Grant County.

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper

May 22

Douglas Buege

Location: Twin Pine Barrens
Oconto County

May 22

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Parkway Road Barrens
Marinette County

The road is also County Hwy I. An attempt to find Chryxus Arctics at 2 usually good patches, but we only found one at a 3rd patch we don't usually survey. The location of some historically good Chryxus Arctic sites at Parkway (County Hwy I) Barrens and Dunbar Barrens State Natural Area are listed on page 5 of “Butterflies to Log in and near Northern Wisconsin’s Bogs” by Ann Swengel at the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association website http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabawba/watching.html

May 22

Douglas Buege

Location: Riverview Rd, off Hwy W
Oconto County

May 22

Daniel Jackson

Location: Jackson property and Lepke property just south of Chaseburg
Vernon County

Peck's Skipper

Peck's Skipper

May 22

Fern Springs

Location: My yard, Garden Valley
Jackson County

5:45, sunny, 78

May 22

Mike Reese

Location: Baxter Lane
Grant County

I didn't see many butterflies but I did get my first Giant Swallowtail of the year. If you go straight past the gate you eventually get the the bluff in the photo. I think it should have some good insects here and it does have a large group of prickly pear at its base.

bluff

bluff

May 22

Ethan Brown

Location: Spirit Lake
Ozaukee County

May 22

Jesse Peterson

Location: Mazomanie Oak Barrens SNA
Dane County

8:30 am to 10:45 am, 62 to 72 degrees, light S winds. Also 1 unidentified duskywing, likely Juvenal's.

American Copper

American Copper

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

May 22

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Dunbar Barrens
Marinette County

An attempt to find Chryxus Arctics. Includes 5 patches owned by the state and one county forest site.

May 22

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Two bogs
Forest County

A bog north of Wolf Lake along Forest Road 2182, and one other bog (where we saw one Freija Fritillary and 24 Brown Elfins). Wolf Lake Bog is also called Bailey Lake Bog (e.eg. Kyle Johnson's May 17 posting). Our Freija Fritillary count of 5 at Wolf Lake was disappointingly low, but it was our best Red-disked Alpine bog this year.

May 22

Lindsey Dalton

Location: Black Hawk Unit
Dane County

All were seen between 6:30 and 8:00 pm. Sunny and in the upper 60s/lower 70s. They were all extremely friendly and curious and kept landing on both me and my dogs whenever we'd pause to hang out!

May 22

Rich Kahl & Laurie Yahr

Location: IATA Table Bluff
Dane County

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

May 22

Mike Reese

Location: Thiede Century Farm, DNR land
Iowa County

I have never stopped here but this place was really surprising with a good sand blow, a nice wetland (beaver lodge in the photo) and so much red cedar that there just has to be some Juniper Hairstreaks here. This is just west of the Sleepy Orange area.

beaver lodge

beaver lodge

May 22

Mike Reese

Location: Russell Hill
Grant County

I walked the western trail well back into the woods and then back. On the way I saw five Monarchs but on the way back I saw eight! Lots of Six-spotted Tiger Beetles here.

Common Sootywing

Common Sootywing

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

May 23

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens in and near Moquah Barrens State Natural Area
Bayfield County

4 survey transects in 3 general areas where we have seen Chryxus Arctics before. We saw a white that was probably a Mustard White.

May 23

Mike Reese

Location: Gotham Jack Pine Barrens SNA
Richland County

The deer and I met while I was rounding a red cedar.

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper

Great Bee Fly

Great Bee Fly

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 23

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon Nature Preserve
Ozaukee County

Almost all of the migrant Red Admirals have perished by now. But they left many presents! Almost all Common Nettle had several caterpillars on it.

May 23

Andy Paulios

Location: Vernon Marsh State Wildlife Area
Waukesha County

May 23

Jesse Peterson

Location: Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie SNA
Dane County

9:00 am - 10:30 am. 68-74 degrees, SSW winds at 5 mph.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 23

Mike Reese

Location: Smith Slough area
Richland County

The Dusted Skipper was seen in the grassland area near the parking lot closest to the SNA nectaring on Hoary Puccoon. My first Hobomok Skipper of the year.

May 23

Joan Braune and Tod Highsmith

Location: Schurch-Thomsoon Prairie
Iowa County

Saw one unidentified hairstreak

May 23

Rachel Padour

Location: AriensCo Conservation Land, Brillion
Calumet County

83 F, sunny, light breeze. Butterfly was observed resting along gravel path in forested area.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

May 23

April Stanke

Location: Brown Deer Middle/High School
Milwaukee County

May 24

Fred Dike

Location: Gov Dodge State Park
Iowa County

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

May 24

Mike Reese

Location: Wildenberg Sand Prairie, Lodi
Columbia County

I keep hoping I will see a Dusted Skipper that was seen there in 2016. Missed twice now. There is a lot of Puccoon in flower, both Hoary and Fringed.

May 24

Fred Dike

Location: Lower Wisconsin Riverway- near Avoca
Iowa County

70's, breezy, mostly sunny

Harvester

Harvester

May 24

Terry Mortier

Location: Doar Prairie Trail, Cylon Marsh SWA, Willow River State Park
St. Croix County

Windy, Hazy sun, 73degrees, Late afternoon. Surprised by how few butterflies I saw. I did see one unidentified tiger swallowtail at the Willow River State Park. I assume it was an Eastern but I did not get a good look at it.

May 24

Mike Reese

Location: Rocky Run Oak Savanna SNA
Columbia County

Sunny, but windy and cooler with the highs in the upper 60s. 2:30-4:45

May 25

Mike Reese, Jay Watson, Elizabeth Braatz, Judy Cardin, Robert Plamann

Location: Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
Juneau County

The best finding was the Common Nighthawk nest. Jay flushed the nighthawk, it it did a broken wing display, and settled down in the grass away from the nest. Jay spotted the two eggs in the nest. We later flushed a different pair. Jay found the first Karner of the year. Photo of the Karner by Jay Watkins and the photos of the Northern Cloudywing were by Elizabeth Braatz.

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing

'Karner' Melissa Blue

'Karner' Melissa Blue

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Common Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk

Monarch

Monarch

Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle

Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle

Common Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 25

Stan Rehm

Location: Fitchburg residential butterfly garden
Dane County

Pretty reliable annual visitor to our gardens; perhaps a little earlier than usual this year

May 25

Mary Backus

Location: Ringle Kayak Landing along Eau Claire River
Marathon County

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 25

Rory Williams

Location: Oshkosh Larsen Prairie SNA
Winnebago County

Incidental while removing parsnips from SNA.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

May 25

Steve Kinyon

Location: Rush Creek State Natural Area, on goat prairie
Crawford County

9:00 to 10:30 a.m., 72°, sunny. Northern Cloudywings were nectaring on Hoary puccoon and sunning on bushes.

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing

★ = New county photo record

May 25

Ethan Brown

Location: Fellenz Woods
Washington County

Many of the Gorgones looked rather old which is surprising for this time of year.

May 26

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: Prairie area at Bjoin Park in Stoughton
Dane County

No photo opportunities as butterflies were all flying. First Clouded Sulphur sighting of the season. Also checked out prairie area at Schefelker Park in Stoughton, but only saw about 20 dragonflies there with several pairs mating. Breezy, sunny 74 degree early afternoon.

May 26

Steve Kinyon

Location: Fort McCoy, Cinder Road
Monroe County

9:00 to 10:30 a.m. 70°, sunny.

American Copper

American Copper

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

American Copper

American Copper

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 26

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens south of Brule
Douglas County

Same spots as on May 20.

May 26

Mike Reese

Location: Muralt Bluff Prairie SNA
Green County

Sunny, low 70s. Little butterfly activity

May 26

Rory Williams

Location: Czech and Cty N
Waushara County

Pepper and Salt Skipper

Pepper and Salt Skipper

American Lady

American Lady

Hobomok Skipper

Hobomok Skipper

May 26

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Bogs between Moose Junction and Amnicon Lake
Douglas County

Same 8 bogs as on May 20, plus we added the Frigga Fritillary specialty bog we call "Bear SW", where we found our only Frigga today. Because we found a lot more Freija Fritillaries today than on May 20, it was disappointing that we found no Red-disked Alpines today (3 found May 20). The Milbert's Tortoiseshell was way out on the bog that fronts Foxboro-Chaffee Road.

May 26

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: My yard in Stoughton
Dane County

Sunny, breezy, 70 degree late morning.

May 26

Terry Mortier

Location: Bog off Milchesky rd., Bog off County HWY A, Pioneer trail
Douglas County

Sunny, afternoon, mid-seventies, clouds of gnats, Large numbers of Brown elfins. Freija fritillaries were very active, rarely landing for more than a couple seconds, making it very difficult to get photos. Adding insult to injury one of them landed on me as I was walking out. (: I also saw one unidentified Duskywing.

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

Freija Fritillary

May 26

Rory Williams

Location: Public Lands on Cty E - East Parking Area
Green Lake County

The lupine fields that were very poor last year were full of lupines, probably 100 acres of lupines all in bloom. The fields are drying up fast. One Festive Tiger Beetle. Four Duskywings in the lupines that were very dark, I got pictures of three of them. One may be a Persius, the others look like a Juvenal's. Mike your thoughts?

'Karner' Melissa Blue

'Karner' Melissa Blue

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Festive Tiger Beetle

Festive Tiger Beetle

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

American Copper

American Copper

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

May 26

Rachel Padour

Location: AriensCo Conservation Land, Brillion
Calumet County

72 F, sunny, calm. Butterflies were observed throughout conservation land flying, resting, and nectaring. The checkerspots and crescents were also observed in dances and mating.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Northern Crescent

Northern Crescent

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

May 26

Ethan Brown

Location: Spirit Lake
Ozaukee County

Also saw a Snowberry Clearwing.

May 26

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Douglas County Wildlife Area
Douglas County

Same 4 patches as on May 20.

May 26

Fred Dike

Location: Garman Nature Park
Jefferson County

May 26

Lindsey Dalton

Location: Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie
Dane County

Sunny, lower 70s, between 2:30 and 4:00 pm. The Black Swallowtails were in the same spot they love, on top of the hill. The Clouded Sulphurs stayed busy nectaring.

Clouded Sulphur

Clouded Sulphur

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

May 26

Mike Reese

Location: Albany Wildlife Area off Schneeberger Rd.
Green County

short stop of 45 minutes. In a field with lots of Sheep Sorrel I saw no American Coppers.

May 27

Dean Hansen

Location: Bog to east of Namekagon Trail, 3/4 miles north of Namekagon River
Burnett County

Only saw two Brown Elfins walking the bog. Sand/gravel of road was generally dry, rare damp spots only attracting a few flighty Erynnis and a couple Brown Elfins. No Jutta Arctics yet.

Brown Elfin

Brown Elfin

May 27

Fred Dike

Location: Rowan Park
Columbia County

May 27

Fred Dike

Location: Otsego Marsh
Columbia County

May 27

Fred Dike

Location: Mud Lake Wildlife Area
Columbia County

May 27

Steve Kinyon

Location: Fort McCoy
Monroe County

11:30 a.m. to 2:30 pm. 72°, sunny, to see what is flying mid-day. Tried spitwads and urine without success in attracting anything. The Gorgone Checkerspots were swarming around a patch of white sand near a stream. Curious to see ants near several of them (see photo). The Common ringlets were also common, but didn't perch where I could get close.

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

American Copper

American Copper

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

American Copper

American Copper

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

American Copper

American Copper

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 27

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens in and near Moquah Barrens State Natural Area
Bayfield County

4 survey transects in 3 general areas where we have seen Chryxus Arctics before. We also saw 2 elfin sp., 1 blue sp., and 2 unidentified duskywings.

May 27

Richard Ouren

Location: Ouren Farm
Grant County

May 27

Dean Hansen

Location: Six spots on Crex Meadows SWA
Burnett County

Olympia Marbles still in flight, but area was dry and there were no spots of damp sand/gravel on the roads to attract mineralizing butterflies. Roadside lupine coming into good bloom; Arabis still in bloom. Saw no butterflies nectaring of hoary puccoon, lupine, or violets. Presumed Canadian Swallowtail was just seen in flight. FOY Dusted Skipper (on Crex Ridge Road) was a treat. A dozen flighty Erynnis went undetermined.

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

Gorgone Checkerspot

Gorgone Checkerspot

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper

Western Tailed-Blue

Western Tailed-Blue

Western Tailed-Blue

Western Tailed-Blue

May 27

Dean Hansen

Location: Nanekagon Barrens
Burnett County

"Butterfly Lek"--see May 20 posting. A few flighty Erynnis went undetermined, but did ID a single Mottled Duskywing.

Mottled Duskywing

Mottled Duskywing

Hoary Elfin

Hoary Elfin

May 27

Joan Rickert

Location: My yard, rural Medford
Taylor County

May 27

Terry Mortier

Location: Standing Cedars, Buffalo Skull Tract
Polk County

Sunny, light wind, 80 degrees

American Copper

American Copper

American Copper

American Copper

May 27

Mike Reese, Karen Oberhauser

Location: UW Madison Arboretum, Grady Tract
Dane County

10:00-12:30. Sunny, high 60s to low 70s. Also 13 Monarch eggs

May 27

Daniel Flynn

Location: Dutch Hollow Lake, La Valle
Sauk County

77 deg, sunshine, damp sand beach.

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 27

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: North end of Yahara River Trail in Stoughton
Dane County

Very few butterflies, but did enjoy seeing a young buck crossing the trail. Blue phlox was in full bloom all along the trail and into the woods. Sunny 74 degree late morning.

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer

Viceroy

Viceroy

Viceroy

Viceroy

May 27

Jeremy Meyer

Location: Riveredge Nature Center
Ozaukee County

May 28

Terry Mortier

Location: Standing Cedars,Buffalo Skull Tract,
Polk County

Morning, sunny, 63 degrees, light wind. Prairie smoke and lupines were in full bloom.

American Copper

American Copper

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 28

D Nussbaum

Location: WIOUWASH Trail
Winnebago County

Between Brooks and Y.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 28

Devin Corbin

Location: Southern edge of Birchwood Township
Washburn County

Also saw some blues, whites, and a duskywing that didn't slow down enough for a positive id. This Harris' checkerspot caterpillar moved at a speed more within reach of my photographic abilities! (Note: the Harris' recorded is this caterpillar; I didn't see an adult.)

Harris' Checkerspot caterpillar

Harris' Checkerspot caterpillar

May 28

Sandra Thompson

Location: Alma, WI. My backyard vegetable garden and compost bin
Buffalo County

Harvester

Harvester

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 28

Mike Reese

Location: south Madison, mostly along the bike trail
Dane County

3.68 miles, 1:06-2:16 PM

May 28

Terry Mortier

Location: Crex Meadows, Curry Rd. South edge of the Clam Lake Fire Break, A couple spots on James Rd and Larson Rd.
Burnett County

Late afternoon, sunny, warm, light wind

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing

Silvery Blue

Silvery Blue

Western Tailed-Blue

Western Tailed-Blue

May 28

Jayne Mullins

Location: Spring Green
Sauk County

Monarch butterfly spent some time behind the Spring Green General Store.

May 28

Ethan Brown

Location: Mequon Nature Preserve
Ozaukee County

May 28

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens along County Hwy X
Wood County

4 sites near Sandhill Wildlife Area. Ann found the Gray Hairstreak (we both got to look at it up close) on a Wild Lupine flower bud. Every Gray Hairstreak we have seen in spring in a barrens the past 35 years was associating with lupines. The Henry's Elfins were spiralling together at a county forest site before landing to be ID'd. The Karners were 1 female and 21 males; all but one of them were at the fastest site out of the >35 sites that we regularly monitor for them.

May 28

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Riley Lake bogs
Price County

We surveyed 6 of the 9 bogs we went to on May 21, including all 4 Dwarf Birch sites that are reliable for Frigga Fritillaries. We found a combined 40 Friggas in 0.35 miles of the birch unit (we have 5 other non-Birch units there where we saw no Friggas) on the bog south of Forest Road 136 not far west of FR 505--in Riley Lake State Natural Area. Scott found 13 Friggas in a solo survey of 0.25 miles length in the bog southwest of Forest Road 137 2.3+ miles south of Hwy 70. We also saw one unidentified white sp.

May 28

Mary Jo Sundling

Location: My yard in Stoughton
Dane County

Sunny, 74 degree morning.

Cabbage White

Cabbage White

May 28

Ethan Brown

Location: Eagle/ Southern Kettle Moraine
Jefferson County

The frit was a surprise.

May 28

Terry Mortier

Location: Stolte Rd. Fish Lake SWA
Burnett County

Late morning/early afternoon, sunny, low seventies light wind. I checked a lot of the lupine patches and puddling spots. It is very dry again. I saw several sleepy/dreamy duskywings puddling.

May 28

Thomas Schultz

Location: Honey Creek Preserve - WSO
Sauk County

Observed along Alder Drive.

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 28

D Nussbaum

Location: Maxwell Road
Winnebago County

May 29

Steve Kinyon

Location: Butterfly Trail, 43°47'59"N,91°12'05"W
La Crosse County

3 to 5 pm, sunny, 80°.

Hobomok Skipper

Hobomok Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Hobomok Skipper

Hobomok Skipper

May 29

Judith Huf

Location: Shorewood Nature Preserve
Milwaukee County

May 29

D Nussbaum

Location: WIOUWASH Trail
Winnebago County

South of GG.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 29

Mike Reese, Karen Oberhauser

Location: Donald County Park
Dane County

This was the most White-striped Black (moth) that I have seen. All seven were seen on horse scat! Karen saw her first Monarch caterpillar of the year.

White-striped Black (moth)

White-striped Black (moth)

White-striped Black (moth)

White-striped Black (moth)

May 29

Fred Dike

Location: Bark River Nature Park
Jefferson County

partly Cloudy, about 70

May 29

Rory Williams

Location: Oshkosh Larsen Prairie SNA
Winnebago County

Looking for Phlox Moths, did not find any.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 29

April Stanke

Location: My Yard in Brown Deer
Milwaukee County

May 29

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens in and Near Mirror Lake State Park
Sauk County

Five patches in the Park and one nearby one. This is probably our highest American Copper count at these sites since 2020 or before.

May 29

Richard Ouren

Location: Ouren Farm
Grant County

May 29

Patrick Ready

Location: Baxter's Hollow
Sauk County

in dusty parking area near bridge 1.

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin

May 29

Ethan Brown

Location: Virmond Park
Ozaukee County

May 29

Kate Redmond

Location: Cedarburg Bog State Natural area - public trails at the north end of the Bog.
Ozaukee County

Five Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillars. Three of the caterpillars were on white ash, one was on a goldenrod, and one was on wood betony. I've never seen adult Baltimore Checkerspots at this location.

Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillar

Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillar

Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillar

Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillar

May 29

Pamela Skaar

Location: Cherokee Marsh NRA - East Trailhead, Madison
Dane County

9:17 - 11:46

May 30

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Blue River Sand Barrens SNA
Grant County

American Coppers were in abundance. I have only ever seen one at a time in the past.

Sunny and beautiful butterfly weather with temps between 68-78F from 9:30-11:30.

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Common Roadside-Skipper

Common Roadside-Skipper

American Copper

American Copper

American Copper

American Copper

★ = New county photo record

May 30

D Nussbaum

Location: WIOUWASH Trail
Winnebago County

North of GG.

Clouded Sulphur

Clouded Sulphur

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 30

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Muscallounge Road near Beetown
Grant County

It was sunny and 85 F around 4:00.

Peck's Skipper

Peck's Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 30

Douglas Buege

Location: Tie Mill Road
Florence County

May 30

Fred Dike

Location: Lake Farm County Park
Dane County

May 30

Fred Dike

Location: Fish Camp County Park
Dane County

May 30

Donna M Williams-Richter

Location: Avoca Prairies and Savanna SNA
Grant County

Always happy to see first sightings of the year of butterfly friends!

Sunny and warm with temps between 80-88F from 12:30-2:30

Tawny-edged Skipper

Tawny-edged Skipper

Viceroy

Viceroy

Viceroy

Viceroy

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

May 30

Mike Reese

Location: Sandhill Wildlife Area
Wood County

11:00-5:30. Sunny and 86 degrees by noon. 7.5 miles of walking trails and roads. All Karners were males.

May 30

April Stanke

Location: My Yard in Brown Deer
Milwaukee County

May 30

Ethan Brown

Location: Cedarburg Bog
Ozaukee County

May 30

Terry Mortier

Location: Crex Meadows, Fish Lake SWA Stolte Rd.
Burnett County

Windy, mostly cloudy, warm

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper

Persius Duskywing

Persius Duskywing

May 30

Joan Rickert

Location: My yard, rural Medford
Taylor County

Depositing eggs on my barely foot tall milkweed.

May 30

Rory Williams

Location: Horicon - North Section
Dodge County

One Six Spotted Tiger Beetle

'Spring' Spring Azure

'Spring' Spring Azure

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

★ = New county photo record
☆ = New county sighting record

May 31

Harry Phipps

Location: New Richmond
St. Croix County

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

May 31

David Czoschke

Location: White River prairie and tameracks SNA
Green Lake County

Not sure what this is at all. My guess is probably wrong but it is the closest I could find.

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet

★ = New county photo record

May 31

April Stanke

Location: River Barn Park in Mequon
Ozaukee County

May 31

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Highway 54 bog
Jackson County

2 miles east of North Settlement Road. 4:00-4:15 p.m., about 90 degrees F.

May 31

Dean Hansen

Location: Fish Lake SWA
Burnett County

Butterflies were scarce--it's dry there. The Juvenal's Duskywing and the Silvery Blue were seen in old field vegetation to the east of East River Road, 0.4 miles north of Co. O. This field has wonderful stands of blooming lupines--check it out. The other species were seen along Stolte Road. Seen today were my FOY Northern Cloudy Wing, Karner Blue, and Viceroy. Stolte Road is nearing its peak of lupine bloom.

lupine

lupine

Viceroy

Viceroy

'Karner' Melissa Blue

'Karner' Melissa Blue

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing

'Karner' Melissa Blue

'Karner' Melissa Blue

Juvenal's Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

May 31

Scott and Ann Swengel

Location: Barrens between Millston and Black River Falls
Jackson County

7:10-3:50 pm, sunny to mostly sunny, about 66-93 degrees F. We began surveying Phlox Moths (and butterflies if seen) at five long-term monitoring sites NW of Millston, then switched to mostly Karner Blue monitoring but included 11 more Phlox Moth sites. We only found 8 Phlox Moths at six sites. Karner Blues were 26 males, a female, and 1 unknown (13 of the Karners were at Dike 17, especially within 200 meters of the parking lot). The Frosted Elfins were in 4 sites: South Brockway West (our unit 4), Belle Mound Unit 4 -- 2 miles south on Brockway Road from Castle Mound Road, 1 mile east, then north up a track and then off-trail through forest for a total of 0.5+ miles (ending only 150 meters north of ESE-WNW trending ATV trail; south side of Stanton Creek Road just E of Cutoff Road); and pipeline ROW south of and parallel to Stanton, 0.3 miles west of Cutoff Road.

May 31

Thomas Smith

Location: River Falls, back yard at State Street
Pierce County

May 31

Judith Huf

Location: Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Milwaukee County

My first Monarch of the year. Milkweed is about 8-12 inches high.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

May 31

Douglas Buege

Location: Ada Lake
Langlade County

☆ = New county sighting record

May 31

Douglas Buege

Location: Scott Lake Rd & Experimental
Forest County

Worst mosquitos I've ever experienced!!