September 2019 Sightings

115-245pm
Upper PAR course only.
C. Buckeyes were unusually small. Meadow Fritillary was large but not as colorful. Fresh White M Hairstreak

11:15 to 12:45. Sunny and clear with very little wind. Butterfly observations were casual in the course of a hike. Best surprise were the Cloudless Sulphurs. I saw 4 in the air at once and continued to see them much of the hike, but not sure if seeing the same individuals over and over. Was interesting to see an Orange Sulphur chasing a Cloudless, to give perspective on great size difference.

Sporadic observations made throughout the day. The Red-banded Hairstreak and the Viceroy were new for the garden this year which brings the total number of species seen in the garden in 2019 to 49.

Partly cloudy, breezy, 70 to 80 deg. F. 10:45 to 11:40 AM. Sightings limited to area around small pond and the upper fields near visitor center.

10:25-11:35
partly sunny, upper 60's

1130-1250pm
Tomato Horned Worm parasitised, all hairstreaks fresh, surprised to see a N. P. Eyed.

Partly cloudy, 65 to 70 deg. F. 9:05 to 10:15 AM. 2 observers
Also saw two Monarch caterpillars on common milkweed

11:30 to 3:00. Mostly sunny to mostly cloudy; temps in 70s.

drive through…. totally cut, almost no foliage, maybe a queen ann's lace and a few clovers

4:30-5 pm, 80's damp but some sun; road recently re-graveled

5:30- 6pm, 80F, some sun. walked the blue trail to the upper field- used to have an assortment of flowers and was good for hairstreaks… only flowers today were a few thistles and goldenrod; the fields on the way to the parking lot were cut and plowed under

7:30-9 am. Most of the butterfly activity was around the southeastern corner of the pond, where a lot of flowers are in bloom right now.

12:00 to 2:30. Mostly sunny, temps in 70s.

80˚F, sunny, 1:10pm-2:10pm

Sunny and warm - 75 degrees - light breeze

Did our annual Leonard's Skipper survey at the shale barrens site that we discovered many years ago. The total of 39 was at least twice the previous high count. All were observed taking nectar from Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) an alien, invasive, species from Europe which is well adapted to grow in dry, sunny, disturbed habitat. Will survey the only other known location in NJ (Yards Creek, Blairstown, Warren County) to support a double digit population this week to determine if this population is also higher this year.

Noticed them on my butterfly bush in the late afternoon

2:20pm -3:50pm, high clouds, 72˚F

It was in my backyard…

https://www.celeryfarm.net/2019/09/giant-swallowtail-visible-from-cf-now.html

Mostly cloudy, 72˚F, 11:10am-1:50pm

Cloudy with brief intervals of sun. Temperature cool, about 70. Leonard's Skippers active only in sunny intervals, most of them on Spotted Knapweed. 1:15PM to 2:45PM.

10:30-11:30 AM. Sun, breeze, 68F.

This was our annual Leonard's Skipper survey at this facility most of which is closed to the public. Survey cut short due to construction and declining weather by early afternoon. The numbers of Orange Sulphurs, Eastern Tailed Blues, Pearl Crescents, and Wild Indigo Duskywings are low.

11:40 AM - 1 PM. Sunny at first, cloud and wind by 1 PM reduced activity. Many Buckeyes faded, tattered, some looked moribund. ETB's fresh. One fresh white-form sulphur.