March 2019 Sightings

Warm and sunny and a perfect late winter butterfly day! 4 Eastern Commas at Jamebsurg Park Conservation Area, two at Frost Woods and two Mourning Cloaks there too.
[Moderator's Note]: First report of overwintering butterflies in northern NJ.

Time 1500, mid 50's, filtered sunlight, 10 mph breeze. I spent the early afternoon walking the trails at Allaire State park, hoping to encounter a Mourning Cloak or an Anglewing. I had no luck and decided to return home. As I was turning into Merrick Road from Rt. 524, a smallish butterfly flew in front of my car. Since I was in the middle of a turn, I could not stop to use my binoculars. The insect was some 15 to 20 feet away, and about 20 feet off the ground, so I was confined to a naked eye ventral only view. Given the relative closeness of the butterfly, I was able to secure a decent look. Alas, it had no real field marks. I could see no clearly defined marks nor color, The size was good for Cabbage White or a Sulphur, but the near absence of color, ruled out a Sulphur. The ventral parts were a blurry gray-dingy white with a faint suggestion of beige or yellow on the hindwing, so I decided it was a Cabbage White, a common resident of this area.
[Moderator's note]: Our first butterfly of the year–let the fun begin!

My first butterfly of the season.

Mostly cloudy and 65 degrees. Observation of comma at 12:45pm. First butterfly of the year for me.

10:30-12:50, sunny, temps in the 50s. Our first butterfly of 2019 - oh happy day!

11:00 to 1:30. Sunny.

3:00pm, 55 degrees, light breeze

1320, 48 degrees, sunny, 12 mph SE breeze. Butterfly was basking in my backyard.

Partly sunny, low 60's.

Observations from Noon-2:00pm. 2 unided anglewings.

75F

Mostly cloudy, 76ºF, 1:45-2:30pm, comma flew up to nectar on Red Maple blossoms.

Late AM, 70 degrees, mostly sunny. Observations during a walk with a large group of birders with Washington Crossing Audubon Society. Oone Mourning Cloak was nectaring on Red Maple blossoms.

12:30-1:15pm, high clouds, 75ºF, trail very muddy and wet, Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs were heard all around, hardly any buds on shrubs or trees.

76F. Lots of people out!

5:20pm
75 and increasing cloudiness

10:30-11:15, sunny-ish, temps in the high 50s.