August 2019 Sightings

Six observers. 9:30 to 2:30. Sunny, temps in mid-80s.

Monarch caterpillars found this am. Many of these other caterpillars have been in my garden for several weeks (picture below) can you please ID. Thanks.

9:45-11:50 75° - 82°

2:50pm-4:00pm, mostly cloudy. 90˚F

10:45 AM - 1:30 PM. Sunny, hot and humid. Abundant nectar - Joe Pye Weed, Ironweed, Monarda, Knapweed. Mountain-mint past peak, Slender-leafed goldenrod just getting started. Found a puddle party of four Tiger Swallowtails that had been killed by a car. Only 1 dark-form female E Tiger; 4 dark swallowtail sp. Usual dearth of grass-skippers.

10 - 10:40 AM. Short visit because gate was locked to lower field with Monarda., and big crew working in the garden. Productive Monarda patch beside the driveway, part way between the two parking lots. Sunny, 77 degrees. 4 dark-form female Eastern Tigers.

Surveyed the fields flanking the entrance road into the park on the east side of Goodale Road as well the two fields around the office between 10 and 11. Left when ZuZu got tired and hot and the cloud cover increased to nearly 100%.
Returned in the afternoon (2:20-3:15) to survey the fields on the west side of Goodale Road. Specifically, the large field around the group campground and the field along the access road to the communications tower on Mt. Nebo. Most species are under counted due to the difficulty of surveying the mass of Wild Bergamot and the annoying habit of dark swallowtails to not land. Our best guess is that 5-10% of the tiger swallowtails were dark females. The dearth of GS Frits and grass skippers continues. Not much hope now to salvage the year. Wild Bergamot (all of the swallowtails and SS Skippers were seen on this amazing native mint) still in fine fettle but just beginning to fade ever so slightly.

Female Pipevine still shooting blanks, but I saw about 15 caterpillars so she must be laying eggs after all. Orange Sulfur seen here less than half the years. One Tiger was a black female.
Mostly sunny, 70's. Noon-4pm.

Fly By

2:20-3:45 pm. Partly cloudy to sunny. My first ever sighting of American Snout for the property. The snout was along the main dike trail about 30-40 yards past the flagpole. Good numbers of Common Buckeye. More than I have seen here before.

Common Ringlet was the 47th species seen in our yard this year. Observations made after 2:00.

Our annual picnic with more than 30 members in attendance. Sightings include those seen at the picnic ground.
Warm and sunny. 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.
One Monarch caterpillar also seen.
Photos from Mike Newlon.

1-115pm
Field filled with partridge pea.
Eastern Tiger was a dark female

10:45-11:15 am. Small patch of Joe-Pye-Weed and Purple Loosestrife was loaded with butterflies.

2:30-3:45 pm. Unided sulphurs.

Loaded with butterflies and ticks. 1-2 pm.

1145-1250pm

11:30 am-12:30 pm. Nice patches of Swamp Milkweed, Joe Pye Weed, and Ironweed around the various walking paths.

1-3 PM, 83 F, sunny. 1 dark swallowtail sp.

Hobler Park is located just south of the intersection of Great Road and C.R. 518 in Skillman (Montgomery Twp.) NJ. Information on the web indicated that part of its management plan is to mow fields in such a way as to encourage butterflies to visit those areas. There was a great deal of milkweed and teasel, both out of season, but this looks to be a promising location at peak milkweed season next year. In any case, on an early morning trip (8-9:30 am) I found several butterflies, including at least one female Monarch actively laying eggs on common milkweed. The morning was pleasant 72-75 F with sun and no wind.

From 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, I walked various parts of Horseshoe Bend Park. I did not see any Gray Commas (that I could definitely confirm), but had sightings of 4 angle-wings near the Park building in front of the quonset hut that is used for storing canoes. There was great diversity of butterflies and some highlights of the day were getting a picture of a Cloudless Sulphur and a Monarch laying eggs, as well as a mating pair of Buckeyes. Temperatures were in the low to mid-80's and sunny during the whole trip.

I spent most of my time watching one small patch of clover as the least skipper was feeding. Spotted my first monarch chrysalis today :)

Two observers, 12:10 PM to 1:153 PM from intersection to the junction of the Flatbrooks. Warm, partly cloudy.

11:30-1:00, sunny, low 80s. Even more surprising than the gratifying number of very fresh-looking Harvesters was the dearth of E. Tiger Swallowtails, still abundant in the lowlands of Sussex Co. Harvesters were found on both Brook Rd. and Fish and Game Rd. Probably best to visit on a weekday when there is less traffic.

12:50pm-2:45pm, parly cloudy, 86˚F

9:00am-12pm, 75˚F-80F, sunny
Long-tailed Skipper was very fresh but very frustrating to photograph since it spent less than a second on a Purple Loosestrife flower before moving onto the next plant.