Recent sightings

In a front lawn in residential neighborhood. On Stylosanthes hamata. About 80 some degrees F. Sunny.

1 km track along a power line easement north of my neighborhood. Partly sunny, ca. 70 ºF with a light breeze. Found a first-of-the-year Henry’s Elfin.

It’s been in the 80s all week here, warm and Sunny. The Zebra Heliconians have been very active. 2-4 hang out in the garden everyday almost all day. I see them very early in the morning so I think they are roosting nearby. I have 5 small Zebra Heliconian caterpillars on the passionvine and 2 chrysalis.

The Gulf Fritillary have also been active, one emerged from its chrysalis today on the passionvine and I have 6 small caterpillars.

I have one male monarch that visits daily this week, a yellow and black swallowtail that doesn’t stay long, but flies by frequently (I think it’s eastern Tiger but can’t get a good look), and the cloudless sulfer are starting to come back around after no sightings for months. I found one roosting in my tree, it has been to the garden every day this week.

It was sunny and cool-about 50 degrees- and this butterfly flew in and landed in the sun as I was watching birds off my porch. Being new to watching butterflies, I took a picture to ID it, and was surprised that what I was coming up with was so out of range. Mike Reese helped me confirm the ID and asked I post it here!

11am to 3pm. Mary Beth Stowe found a Mourning Cloak but I could not find it. NBC list for Feb is up to 56 after the hard freeze.

Upper 80s, light breeze, but later got to 93! Surprised at how good the NBC is after a hard freeze about 3 weeks ago. The only blooms are Whitebrush and Elbow Bush and some Baby Bonnets. We saw 23 species of butterflies in just a couple of hours. And we walked only a small portion of the property. What a great place. Saw a bird: Verdin.

Bright but cool day, Maximum 52 degrees.

10:30am - 2:00pm

Sunny and breezy with temperatures in the mid 80’s, sweltering hot coming from Anchorage. Most sightings were from a flower patch near the park exit, where I sat and waited for butterflies to come by from 3 to 4pm.

One female Monarch lazily circled my front yard, then sped up as it nearly got hit by a passing vehicle.

It was 85 degrees with full sun when I looked out the window and saw a Holly Azure first in our American Holly tree and then it flew to a tall blooming viburnum. Photo taken from a long distance.

Bright with light hazy clouds at about 80° from 4:10-5:40pm. Several of the Orange Sulphurs showed golden orange coloration on their dorsal wing surfaces, and a white “alba” form female was also observed.

Sunny, light breeze, 80 degrees. Dry conditions with lower species variety than previous years, however a much higher Monarch count than ever seen previously.

Seen while doing yardwork. Sunny, temps in low 60’s.

First time I’ve ever seen a Red Admiral in the garden. It was fluttering very fast, hard to get a good picture. I didn’t see it nectar on any of the flowers but it sat around for a long time to sun its wings.

Mostly to partly cloudy, light breeze, upper 70s. Several locations today…most seen in suburban Venice with the random Zebra Swallowtail at Myakka River SP, and the Atalas (cats and chrysalises not included in tally) at Twin Lakes on and around their Coontie host plant. Apologies for some of the grainy cell phone images…

Weather was clear, 63°-71°, 5-8mph winds
Surveyed from 10:30am-1:00pm

Ronda Spink, Barbara Woodmansee, and Carol Lippincott

84 degrees
Laid eggs on the passionvine
They visit the garden daily.

Weather was cloudy-mostly clear, 69°-71°, 12mph wind gusts
Surveyed from 10:45am-4:00pm

Ronda Spink, Barbara Woodmansee, and Valerie Giles

Weather was clear, 61°-71°, calm winds
Surveyed from 10:50am-4:25pm

Ronda Spink and Barbara Woodmansee