The lazy days of summer include just hanging out in the sun soaking up the rays, like this female Five-lined Skink. Photo by Marianne BalkwillIt has been awhile since I've posted. With leaving my old job, upgrading courses, and now acquiring 2 part time jobs, it has been an interesting last couple of months. Things are starting to settle down now so I have some time to head out in the field again.
Jeremy was also down for the weekend so we decided to head out in the afternoon for some butterfly watching on Sunday, August 1st.
In the morning I decided to check out Seacliff Beach and Pelee before I met up with Jeremy. About 350 Boniparte's Gulls with 9 baby Boni's were hanging out.
In Pelee I decided to check out Shusters and Tilden Woods trail. Had my first fall migrant warbler, a Northern Waterthrush on Shuster Trail. Local Common Yellowthroats including some of this years young scolded me. Other birds along the Tilden Trail included the local Baltimore Orioles, 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Yellow Warblers, a Downy Woodpecker, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a Warbling Vireo, a Red-eyed Vireo, and a Black-capped Chickadee that was west of the old road patch.
Common Buckeye. Photo by Marianne Balkwill
Jeremy and I met up in the afternoon along the west beach and walked down towards the tip for butterflies. The areas we concentrated on were those that of course had Spotted Knapweed. Besides tons of Cabbage Whites and Orange Sulphurs, we also had the following:
Common Sulphur (3)
Buckeye (17)
Snout (5)
Summer Crescent(4) and a few unidentified Crescents as well.
Dun Skipper (2)
Viceroy (6)
Lady (unidentified as it flew by) (1)
Monarch (4)
Giant Swallowtail (5)
Silver-spotted Skipper (9)
Eastern-tailed Blue (4)
Summer Azure (2)
Eastern Comma (1)
Question Mark (3)
Spicebush Swallowtail (4)
Dun Skipper. Photo by Marianne Balkwill
Not a bad little walk for butterflies. Oddly we didn't spot any Little Yellows. Birds of note included an Eastern Kingbird feeding its demanding fledgling, Great Crested Flycatcher, and a couple of Boniparte Gulls.
This Saturday is Point Pelee's annual butterfly count. Unfortunately, I will be working, but it will be interesting to see what will be spotted this weekend.
Hey, nice to hear from you! It is amazing what goes through Point Pelee with regards to butterflies. Here today....gone tomorrow type of thing. I wanted to see Juniper Hairstreak...maybe Saturday!.
ReplyDeleteThe Dun Skipper photo turned out really well!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great time on Sunday. I really love butterflying and I think we put together a nice list. I also wish I was in town for the butterfly count.
Had an absolutely gorgeous male Spicebush in Turkey Point P.P. yesterday.