August 2021 Sightings

In the morning just before the rain we went to check if the second brood of Bronze Coppers are out. Spoiler alert: we did not see any but the third brood should be out soon.

10:45 to 2:00. Mixed sun & clouds with low humidity and temps upper 60s to mid-70s. Visited several areas on the west side of the park. Swallowtails not very numerous despite large stands of Monarda. Saw no Silver-spotted Skippers. Perhaps the next week or two will yield larger numbers.

Observations throughout the day.

5:15 to 6:20 pm. Sunny and breezy. Not much species diversity, but Question Marks seemed to be everywhere.

1:15-4:10 warm with sun and clouds. So cool to see the gray commas which were a first for me!! All 3 are pictured - amazing how vibrant they are on the dorsal side. First time I've seen more than one snout, and first time seeing a least skipper out on gravel. Note the nice rainbow scales on the back of the peck's skipper. Also another high species count at 20.

9:50 - 3:30 Alternately cloudy and sunny, walked Dog Park, The Farm and the south parking meadows. Six of the Gray Commas were at The Farm, one in the south area of park. Several more spreadwing skippers in flight left unidentified. One fritillary sp. too far to ID in flight.

4:00 to 5:00 pm. Sunny and breezy. Butterfly numbers and diversity here have been abysmal this year and last year. I wonder if all of the land remediation and construction in adjacent areas in the past few years has had an effect.

4:10-5:00, 75º, sun and clouds. The female Peachtree Borer Moth, which closely resembles a wasp (but note proboscis and lengthy antennae!), was nectaring on goldenrod.

Comfortable, partly cloudy day

10:00-4:45. Mostly cloudy. Humid, in the 70s. We were having a very good day and that was before a Harvester decided to make friends with us! As we were walking along, a butterfly began fluttering all around us, particularly round and round our heads. Couldn't figure out what it was, and then it landed on my hand - a Harvester! It continued to land on one of us and then the other, obviously enjoying our company (and our sweat)! After being photographed and oohed and aahed over for about twenty minutes, our little buddy finally flew off. One of those magical moments, and great way to see a "lifer!" Many plants in full bloom, including Monarda, Knapweed and Joe Pye Weed. Also New York Ironweed and Goldenrods beginning to flower. Two Duskywing and fifteen dark Swallowtail flybys. One cooperative Cicada.

11:30 to 1:00 Cloudy, in the 70s. At the two NW parking lots and the adjacent fields. Nice Giant Swallowtail show today.

Wildlife Observation Center and trailhead parking lot on Meyersville/New Vernon Rd. 11 AM - 1 PM, 75-80 F, sun and clouds, quite breezy. Not much at the WOC; most skipper action on Purple loosestrife at the parking lot.

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Cloudy and cool. Lots of Joe-Pye weed, Ironweed, Purple loosestrife, Mountain-mint blooming, but not enough sun.

Sunny day with high clouds temps in the 70's

11:45-12:00, partly sunny, warm, breezy.

The Definite Tussock Moth caterpillar was a nice find. It is far less common in NJ than the White-marked Tussock Moth.

[Moderator]: First report of Compton Tortoiseshell in the state since 2018.

9:30 to 12:00. Partly cloudy, temps ca. 80. About 14 observers.
One E. Comma dead-on-road.

10:40 to 12:10. 73-82º and mostly sunny. Walked the perimeter of the fields between Goodale Road and the office. Could have covered more but ZuZu protested. Came close to sweeping the resident swallowtails but try as we might we could not find a Black. This means of course that we did find a Pipevine - and what a beauty!

"working" from home, checked gardens throughout day. mostly sunny. Both species of Clearwing Moths on butterfly bush daily. (Pretty sure on the broken - dash ID)

9:30 AM - 2:30 PM. Hot and sunny. Much Monarda and Mountain-mint blooming, and a good patch of Knapweed just inside the gate at the Dog Park. Lots of butterflies in the road at the powerline crossing in the North Section. 2 dark swallowtail sp, 3 anglewing sp, 3 duskywing sp.

Giant ST's were engaged in courtship with the male hovering several inches behind the nectaring female. They finally flew together up high into one of our hickory trees, out of sight. The Pipevine was the first I've seen in my garden in several years - a very nice surprise.

Random observations throughout the day. Very fresh Red Admiral and Hackberry Emperor. I photographed the emperor while it was on my pants. The 17 species we saw in the yard this day was the best we have done this year—a far cry from the 20-25 daily counts we routinely achieved in late July and early August up through 2018.

4:40-5pm
(no trails- quick look at the water)
spice bush, cardinal flower, new york iron weed in bloom
mated pair of monarchs flying

2:30-4:35

First Tawny I've recorded in my yard.

Not certain about my duskywing ID, so please correct if I'm wrong!

The Monarch Chrysalis had just pupated so was still wriggling around a bit. You can clearly see the wings, legs, eyes and attennae at this stage

Am missing eggs and little cats this year- only find them when they are unmistakably large. I still have blooming milk weed because I water it, unlike the truly wild plants that dry out when it does not rain.

Quick stop on the way home.

10:30 AM - 2 PM. Sun and clouds, 80-85 F. Pleasant Plains Rd, Trailhead parking lot on Long Hill Rd, parking lots on N side of refuge. abundant Joe-Pye weed, Ironweed, Purple loosestrife on Pleasant Plains Rd but relatively few butterflies. Most of the Monarchs seemed to be females looking for milkweed. Broad-wings at the lot on Long Hill Rd. Note the HW of the Appalachian Brown; the basal line has an inwardly-directed "tooth".