May 2018 Sightings

I sent along an invitation via the North Jersey chapter of NABA to see if anyone was interested in joining me to see if we could observe the Falcate orangetips at Mercer County Park. There was an enthusiastic response and we had a group of six butterfliers, in all. We met at the park at 1:30 pm and walked along the power line area for about an hour and 15 minutes in near-perfect sunny weather with very little breeze and 77º F. In that time, we saw 29 Falcate orangetips overall; 7 females, 3 fly-by individuals that could not be determined and the other 19 were males. This was the most Falcate orangetips I have seen at the park (as best I can remember) in a single day and their numbers are definitely good this year, despite the late spring. Normally, they would be done by now, but they seem to be just reaching their peak and it may be possible to see them for another few days.

12:45 to 2:15. Sunny; temps in mid-70s; breezy.
One azure was noticeably smaller and a clean violacea form. I often don't see any violacea forms in NW NJ in spring.

After the others went home, I decided on the spur of the moment to check out the other area in the park where I have observed Falcate orangetips - an apparent abandoned roadway along Hughes Drive (visible on aerial photos). I was there from 3:15 to 4:00 pm and was rewarded with an American copper.

Sunny, breezy, mid70's. Lots of larval plant food, but little nectar.

Finally! Some yard butterflies. Azures seen nectaring on plum and pear blossoms.

Leaderless Walks

9:00am-12:30pm, 89ºF, sunny
Falcate Orangetips were mostly males. Juniper Hairstreak is new for this location. Record number of Brown Elfins for this location, most were very fresh.

7:15 am

Back to Mercer County Park later in the afternoon; I am combining sightings from the power lines area and the "abandoned roadway" area. There was a sustained 15 mph wind and it was mostly sunny and 91º F at 3:15, when I arrived. I spent 45 minutes at the power lines and another hour at the roadway. At the power lines there were 3 Falcate orangetips, 1 Eastern tailed-blue, 1 Spring Azure and 1 Juvenal's duskywing; all the other butterflies were from the abandoned roadway and surrounding wooded areas. Nearly all were females (18 of 22 overall). There was one fly-by swallowtail (fortunately it was a Black Swallowtail male - easily identified).

Mourning Cloak observed visiting every species of willow in the yard. Possibly ovipositing higher up in the taller trees.

2:30-3:15, partly sunny, 80°. Juniper Hairstreak on Cypress Spurge, a favorite spring nectar plant.

3:30-4:05, mostly cloudy, 72°.

10:45-2:15, partly sunny, 65-71°. In company with Joe Burgiel and Marge Barrett.

Overcast afternoon.

Second part of NJBC "Sandy Hook" trip. 1:35 PM to 3:00 PM. Partly cloudy, breezy conditions; temperature around 73 deg.
Twelve people started out, eight finished this portion of the field trip.

9:30 to 12:00 (just reporting on the first portion of the trip). Our first field trip with any warmth attracted 18+ butterfliers. Skies were partly sunny, temps in the upper 60s to low 70s, with a strong breeze. Closure of a significant portion of Sandy Hook for a race made it interesting trying get together as our meeting place was in the the closed off section!

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail was puddling.

First of Year Pearl Crescents, Eastern tailed Blues and Black Swallowtails.

Falcate Orangetip was seen patrolling the garden. It touched down for 2 seconds. I managed to get a quick shot with my phone before it flew off.

2:00-3:15, partly sunny, low 70s. Campground area and Twin Lakes.

Sunny, low 60's, breezy.

9:00 to 2:00 though mostly birding. Mostly sunny, ca. 70°.

Mostly Sunny, Mid 70s

Mostly sunny, Warm.
MEFRs both near farmhouse.
4 un-IDed small dark hairstreaks