August 2017 Sightings

1145 to 1350. Mostly sunny, Mid 80's.

Mostly sunny - 80 degrees

Sunny & Hot, 10:20AM to 11:20AM

On the Buddleia. Tiger Swallowtail a black-form female.

10:10 AM - 12:20 PM. Overcast at first, then sun and clouds. 86 degrees, humid. Much Mountain-mint and some Goldenrod near the silos and along field-edges to their north; good patches of Knapweed along River Road itself, between the two parking lots. One Tiger Swallowtail a black-form female.

3:45 to 4:45. Hot, humid, and sunny. Five of the 137 Tiger Swallowtails were dark. All of the swallowtails were nectaring at Wild Bergamot which is near, or at, its peak now. Also seen were about 5 dark swallowtails and 2 ladies that could not be identified.

9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Fog early so there was little activity at first, then cleared around 10:30. The Emperor was photographed on three participants.

Partly cloudy in am and windy. Sunny later in am and afternoon. Stopped counting silver-spotted skippers after 90+. Couldn't find the elusive 30th species!

Mostly sunny - warm and humid. 2:45pm to 3:35pm

Sunny, 80's. 1000 to 1400. Intermittent observation.

Took a stroll around the pond during the mid-afternoon.

1:00 to 3:15. Partly cloudy; quite breezy; 70s.

1:30-5:00 Cloudy start but it improved quickly with clear skies
There is major construction going on by the parking lot.
Lots of nectar sources with acres of knapweed.

11:20 to 1:15 Mixed sun and clouds, breezy. One of the 24 tigers was dark.

We found 3 separate groups of Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars each smaller than the other.

10:15am-1:00pm, 68-72F, mostly cloudy

9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, partly cloudy, 67 degrees to 77 degrees.

NABA led walk from 10-12. Partly to mostly cloudy, 70's. About 25 participants guided by Sharon Wander, Wade Wander, Anita Richmond, and Keith Richmond. Nearly more people than butterflies!

78 F slight wind and pleasant. 11:40am to 12:40pm.
[Moderator's Note]: Ocola Skipper is new record for Mercer County and a new early date for northern NJ.

10:30 AM - 2:20 PM. High overcast, a few breaks of sun; low 70's. Abundant Monarda, attracting Swallowtails. Also abundant Knapweed & Queen-Anne's lace, but no butterflies on either. We covered fields near the headquarters and both sides of Gooddale Road. One Anglewing sp. Few Whites and Skippers, no Sulfurs.

2:07-3:15, mostly cloudy
(hedge row edges severely mowed;
less flowers than we have seen other years.
location we had coppers last year mowed to bits.)
followed #1-10 of Parcourse, checking field
Photos by Mike Lee

3:22-4:35pm cloudy then sunny, 78F
garden and Discovery Trail
(hairstreaks fresh and mating)
1 Dark morph Eastern Tiger Swallowtail seen
Photos by C Wyluda

We walked from the hawk watch to dam and then the fields and butterfly garden by the visitors center. We found a few mature Monarch Caterpillars along with several dozen Milkweed Tussock Caterpillars of various stages on the Milkweed and Indian Hemp in the fields.

Kevin Keating and I did a butterfly census of the farm from 1000 to 1400. Partly sunny in the high 70's. Monarch and Skipper totals were the highest ever for the Farm.

3 Pipevine caterpillars on Dutchman's Pipe in backyard

1030 to 1530. Sunny, 75 to low 80's,

Leaderless Walk - 10 participants

2:00 to 3:20, mostly sunny, 76-81 degrees