March 2020 Sightings

[Moderator note]: Earlier than previous early date in northern NJ by a week. The first azure of the year in southern NJ was seen only the previous day.

2:45pm 58F sunny with little wind

Walk of Green trail around 3.20pm. Temps topped out at 73 according to phone

73f and sunny met Tom there and decided to combine efforts
had a mystery butterfly flyby at the top of the pipeline

1st yard butterfly for the year. Stuck around for about 3 minutes. Just long enough for Patti to see it.

Wonderful sunny day in the upper 60's.

Seen around a sap run on a Black Walnut tree - seen from 1 pm to 4 pm.

On the way in to the park I saw one fly-by butterfly, which I believe to have been a Cabbage white, though its flight pattern and pale appearance might have been that of a Falcate orangetip. In any case, I was looking for the first signs of Falcate orangetips without success. Normally, they are abundant (at the right time) around the power lines near the lake and west picnic area of the park. Since we have had several days in the 60's and today was 70º F+, I wanted to see if the temperature had any effect of bringing them out early. This year, PSE&G (the owner of the power lines) is conducting a massive replacement of the lines and upgrading from girder-type towers to solid metal towers. Much of the area where one would normally walk in search of the Falcates is blocked off and less than optimally accessible. Also, although I have seen hairy rock cress growing in Princeton to the north of this site and Hamilton to the south, I saw no evidence of the plants in the park as yet.

Temp topped out around 70°C. Sunny but windy. 3.30pm til 5pm. Frustratingly short looks at Mourning Cloak before it hurtled off into the woods. One Anglewing unidentified.

Flyby around 3pm during my afternoon walk around my neighborhood in SE part of town.

Cloudy, rainy morning cleared to a beautiful afternoon in the 60s. Hundreds of Wood Frogs were calling in a large vernal pond along the Red Trail in the South section of the Preserve, and Red-shouldered Hawks were active.

Warm afternoon, butterflies coming to sap run on a Black Walnut tree.

I have been taking Pat Sutton’s advice and leaving the leaves and look who popped out. An Easter Comma

3 or 4 anglewings too and countless ground nesting bees along the trails

3:45-5:30pm diminishing sun to clouds

While out hiking with our family, we spotted a morning cloak fluttering around along the trail.

Thought it was a leaf falling, but it turned out to be a Mourning Cloak in my backyard! Seemed so early for a butterfly, until I read up on them and learned that they overwinter in the bark of trees. Fascinating! (too quick, didn't get a pic)

2pm. 55°C

FOY for me

3:15-4:15, 56°F, filtered sun, very muddy trail
Wood Frogs and a few Spring Peepers calling..

Sunny afternoon, temp about 50, light breeze.

sunny, high 50's Eastern Comma on the exact same cedar tree as last week

Spotted three Eastern Commas in the woods near our house. So nice to see!

59 and sunny….pine elfin was across the isthmus opposite the gasline cut near the solar panels near river birch along water.
Weak flying with very checkered reddish hind wing
[Moderator note:] Northern NJ new early date by 2 weeks for Eastern Pine Elfin.

this preserve was open until 4/8- closed now
green trail; two commas fighting