Today was the annual Skunk's Misery butterfly count near Wardsville. It was a hot day and I left early to beat the heat. Things were looking pretty good by early afternoon for species, but there were not huge numbers of butterflies like some years past. The excessive mowing along roadsides did not help! When are people going to clue in that this is NOT necessary? Butterflies emerged quite a bit earlier this year, so perhaps that had some bearing on what we saw.
Our group had 31 species by early afternoon and I know more were added after I left.
Highlight for us was a Harvester! It is a very uncommon butterfly for Ontario and rather unuique. It had several people stumped, but I knew immediately what it was. I have only seen one other (Rondeau Park, 2001) when Sandy Dobbyn found one. Apparently another Harvester was found by another group not far away, so no doubt others are around. Undoubtedly the species of the day!
If you are waiting for a photo, you will not see one! I decided to leave the camera at home today for a change. This usually happens when you find something good!
Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Erieau, June 2010)
Milbert's Tortoiseshells were numerous in one spot. We saw at least a half dozen and I am sure there will be a record high count.
On the way home, I spotted a Buckeye at one of our good spots. Nobody had one to that point as far as I knew.
Buckeye (Pelee, 2008)
Hey, where'd you see that Skunk? ... Just teasing! Good going on the Harvester BF - it would have been a lifer for me. McLean Line friend.
ReplyDeleteBlake, that Buckeye was fantastic!
ReplyDelete