October 2022 Sightings

A few forays into our gardens on the first sunny day after many consecutive cool, overcast, and rainy days. Despite the sun, warmth, and lots of plants still blooming we saw only 3 species. This compared to as many as 15 species reported on the same day from a single location in Cape May. So, if you want to see butterflies this time of year head south.

8:45 AM - 12:20 PM, 55-73F, sun and no wind. Many asters still blooming.

3:30 to 4:30, 74 degrees, mostly sunny.
All butterflies were seen in the garden sections of the park.

Last warm day for awhile brought a few last butterflies. A crab spider got one of our two Cabbage Whites late yesterday.

2:10 - 2:50 warm and sunny. I visited this park to see the black swan that made its home in the pond and had one butterfly flyover.

8:45-11:45 AM, 55-70 F.

Cool, clear, sunny, midday. Two separate sightings in different areas of the forest.

State Line Lookout

3:50-4:50 sunny and warm. The very large seaside goldenrod field is probably just past peak.

Spent a few hours, 11am-1pm walking in the park mainly hunting Odes came across these butterflies.

60s, mostly sunny, and breezy

1/2 mile walk with ZuZu in early afternoon.

70 and mostly sunny with light breeze

1:30-2:10
Quick spin through the fields along the entrance road.

a short walk near Lake Ocquittunk, 1:55 -2:15pm

2:30-4:40 multiple locations from Plum Island to the tip area. This was my first Mourning Cloak at Sandy Hook. Seaside goldenrod field at Spermaceti Cove is no longer growing - I've had a long-tailed skipper there in the past as well as ocolas.

Quick stop along the side of Dixon Road to scan the hayfield for Meadow Fritillaries and Common Ringlets. These vast hayfields are private property so please just view from road edges and do not park on grass.

2:30 - 3:30. Mostly overcast, around 70 degrees. Covered several areas but the only place where butterflies were seen was at the boat launch. One of the Buckeyes (pictured) was quite worn.

70, mostly sunny and breezy

Short, mid-afternoon, walk with ZuZu along the paths through the fields along the entrance road.

I was taking a break at work swatting numerous Spotted Lantern Flies when a dark butterfly started to fly under the eaves of office. It finally landed on the concrete block at eye level. I was very surprised to see it was a Compton Tortoiseshell. I ran inside to grab my phone to take a picture, but it was gone when I returned.

[Moderator's Note: This is the first 2022 report of this increasingly hard-to-find species. The last report was of one individual seen by Barb Sendelbach in High Point SP in August 2021. Compton Tortoiseshell was a regular resident (e.g., seen most years on the Springdale Count from 1992 to 2009). However, it has not been reported on the Count since 2009, the last double-digit (13) observation was by Wade and Sharon Wander from Wawayanda SP in 2015, and only 9 have been reported to Recent Sightings since 2016.] (WW,SW)

2:40-4:05 mostly sunny with some clouds and 73 degrees. Gardens still looking good but much less pollinator activity. 4 female and 2 male sachems. Likely my last butterfly trip of the season.

Observations late on a sunny day in the 60s.

1:30-2:30 Full sun and 60's

nice looking specimen but no photo- flew off as I approached

60s, mostly sunny and breezy

Afternoon stroll through the meadows along the entrance road and through some fields on the WMA on the opposite side of Route 21.

60s and mostly sunny in the afternoon

not much blooming here- a few asters; powers that be weeded out invasives about 1.5 months ago

Cool and breezy with temp maxing out at about 55. Mostly cloudy.

Short walk with ZuZu through the fields along the entrance road. The comma was very fresh. Pretty slim pickings otherwise.

Sunny, but mid-50s and quite breezy. The Lady was basking on our brick walk but it seemed to be too cool for it to attempt nectaring on the asters.

full sun, 60s in afternoon
After a few heavy frosts most of the insect action confined to late-flowering asters. (We counted more than 2 dozen honeybees on one large clump of asters.) Maximillian Sunflowers still going strong as well. Some goldenrods and purple-top verbenas are still blooming (though fading). Just a few Buddleia flowers left.

full sun and near 70 in the afternoon

The same male Monarch has been with us for 2 days and 2 nights. It is time for it to be on its way. No sign of the Am. Lady, Eastern Comma, or Fiery Skipper that were in the garden yesterday.