Recent sightings

In the morning just before the rain we went to check if the second brood of Bronze Coppers are out. Spoiler alert: we did not see any but the third brood should be out soon.

1400 to 1520. Sunny, low humidity, slight breeze.

These random observations are from July 30 and 31. The very fresh Red-banded Hairstreak was species number 41 in our yard this year (below average for the end of July) and was photographed nectaring at a Common Arrowhead in one of our ponds. We cannot remember ever seeing a butterfly taking nectar from this wetland plant.

Mid-Morning

9:00-3:00, while waiting for car service to be completed. Mostly sunny and breezy, pleasant temperatures. Nearby conservation easement undoubtedly helped with numbers. Least Skippers nectaring on clover in mowed lawn.

11:30 to 12:45

73 degrees to start, but warmed up to 82. Damp gravel road attracted Gray comma, Hackberry emperor, and duskywings. Gray comma landed on a couple in the group, and liked a backpack especially. Undercounted duskywings as many too quick to id.

Photos taken at July 30 NABA-NJ field trip. See NABA-NJ report for details of butterfly sightings and counts.

11am to 3 pm. Hiked from Otter Hole parking lot to Wyanokie High Point and back. Mostly sunny, low 80s.

1:15-2:30 PM. Sunny, breezy, 85 F. Monarda in full bloom. Two white-form Sulphur sp. Watched a Pearl Crescent repeated chase a Monarch off an Echinacea flower. The Thick-headed flies are likely in the genus Physocephala; they are parasitoids of wasps and bees.

Scouting trip for 7/30 field trip.
Tawny-edged Skipper with purple sheen was mint.

An amazing day in Paula's Yard.
Had Pipevine Swallowtail Laying eggs on our Pipevine
Red-spotted Purple laying eggs also.

12:15 to 1:30. Sunny; temp. c. 80°. Just part of the area along the Andover Trail near the airport.

About 45 minutes of observation in 2 parking lots and adjacent fields. These parking lots are most active immediately after rains.

Lots of Wild Bergamot, and some teasel, thistle, and Wild Basil in bloom but not much action and no grass skippers in more than 1 hr. of observation.

Wednesday walk
Snoutswere north of the stone tower on Hackberries

Leaderless Walks - 8 participants. Temps in 70's, sunny.

Dark form, female

quick drive through around 4:00, sunny, high 89 degrees

This is the first time I had a viceroy in my garden.

12:45 to 2:45. Sunny; temps in mid-upper 80s.

Just the area around the parking lot. One Peck's Skipper in the clutches of a mantis.

10:15-11:40 AM. Sunny, 85 F. Last year's construction caused a loss of nectar sources here, some Purple loosetrife and Mountain-mint, a few Swamp milkweed and Dogbane remain.

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM. Hot and sunny.

1):15 - 11:40 AM. Sunny, humid, 80-95 F. Trails unmowed, mosquitos abundant. Mountain-mint, a little Swamp millkweed, Purple loosestrife blooming. All photos on Swamp milkweed.

2 question marks landed right on the front window screen. This is the first time I had the opportunity to get a definitive ID on this species in the yard.

45 minutes - Mid-morning

teasel blooming in the lot- know that this is not native but the swallowtails like it
12:20- 2:20
4 legged female ETB

Cloudy AM, sunny, hot and very humid PM. A Broad-winged Skipper appears every year at about this time, and almost always in the same spot on the same Buddleia. Can’t muster more than 2 of anything except Cabbage White.

Brief stop on a cloudy day.

I was in the greenhouse picking veggies and in the rear near my Tomatoes, Peppers, and Cubes. Appeared to be sleeping.

70's, Cloudy, Grasses were wet,

Our territory for the Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve count. Lots of Wild Bergamot and Narrow-leaved Mountainmint. East side was disappointing as the dirt road was mainly dry and the power line corridor had been scalped.

2:15-4:00 pm. Sunny low 80s. Walked the pipeline right-of-way and woods trails on both sides of ROW. Only significant nectar source at present is spotted knapweed. Almost stepped on Black Racer sunning on pipeline trail.

checked garden, butterfly bush throughout late morning Sunny, hot

12:47-2:15pm

3-410 pm
butterfly house not included

11:30-1:00, sunny, low 80s F. Crowded with people. The first Giant Swallowtail had a notch taken out of the left forewing; the second didn't.

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM; Sunny; Hot; Humid
Both Pearly-eyes were on the entrance road.

Mid Afternoon; Hot; Humid; Calm

Looking at my pollinator garden

12:40-3:40 hot and sunny. I likely have to miss the upcoming field trip so I really wanted to check out this site! Mountain mint and wild bergamot seem to be at peak. I walked around most fields near the south entrance and mainly searched where mint was most prevalent. Juniper hairstreak was a first for me. This list is also my high species count. Some other small duskywings - likely wild indigo. I checked the paved and gravel lots and some dirt trails for the commas but no luck.

Led by North NJ Butterfly Club

not tended during COVID and now only tidied a bit. had pipe vine caterpillars here during the official count but none evident.

3:15-5:30. Mostly sunny, low 80s. Never before been to the excellent butterflying fields on the northeast loop of Glacial Trail near where a power line crosses Lake Aeroflex. Lots of activity there. Nectaring plants in bloom included Monarda, Mountain Mint, Knapweed and Liatris. Also three dark Swallowtail flybys.

Sun and clouds - comfortably warm and breezy. 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm. Observations while working in the fields.

3:45-4:15. Hazy sun. Lots of nectaring plants in bloom including Swamp Milkweed, Dogbane, Clover, Purple Loosestrife, Mimulus and Sneezewee, among others. Also one Duskywing sp.

2:00-2:45. Hazy sun. Butterflies seen while shopping for perennials. Skippers were favoring marigolds and zinnias for nectaring.

Temps in 80's, lower humidity. Sunny.

10:30 AM - 1 PM. Sun and clouds, 75-83 F. Monarda in full bloom, best in field on left just beyond gate. Knapweed, Joe-Pye Weed getting started. Several Clouded Sulphurs were real runts. White-form Sulphur sp. 1, Fritillary sp. 2, Duskywing sp. 1. Not a single Grass-skipper. Crushed half a dozen Spotted Lanternfly nymphs; all on mugwort so of two minds about it.

10:30-12:00, sun and clouds. Goodale Road fields, not including campground side. Wild Bergamot in peak bloom. Three of the Tigers were dark.

Fred Pfeifer, Paula and Chris. 2hrs

4:15-5:20 pm. Hazy, low 80s. First time I saw a Wood Nymph in this park.

2:40-3:20 pm. Hazy with some sun. Low 80s. Despite the wonderful job the Meadowlands Commission has done planting native pollinator gardens throughout the main grounds, not many butterflies have been present this year.

Sun and clouds , low 80s. First Giant of the second brood, after a nearly undetectable first brood here. The swallowtails do love Bottlebrush Buckeye!

Random observations throughout the day. This is the first year we have seen both broods of ringlet in our garden. Checking in at about 1 inch, the Mydas Fly is one of our largest species of Diptera. It looks like a wasp so looks frightening at first glance but is harmless to humans but not to beetles as it parasitizes grubs.

Leaderless Walks - 5 participants. Temps in low 80's, very humid and overcast.

Leaderless Walks - 8 participants. Temps in the 80's and very humid and overcast due to smoke in atmosphere from fires in the west.