Since butterflies emerged much earlier this year, we missed many species. Also this count was a few days later than usual. However, Broad-winged Skippers stole the show with dozens all over the place, especially in the Spring Garden complex.
Broad-winged Skippers
We also had many Mulberry Wing and a few Dion, and possibly a Dukes' Skipper. A Black Dash was also seen.
Mulberry Wing (?)
We started at Brunet Park where hairstreaks are usually in good numbers, but not a single one this year! Some Wild Indigo Duskywings were here as well as other skippers.
We moved on to Spring Garden area to walk a sedge meadow where we found the sedge skippers, especially Broad-winged in good numbers. We also had a few Edwards' Hairstreaks and only one Coral (very worn).
Edwards' Hairstreak
Mulberry Wing was in good numbers as well.
A single Fiery Skipper.
Also a duskywing that was thought to be a Columbine, but I do not know enough about them since they look too much like Wild Indigo. The larval foodplant is columbine (no surprise!) so if that is there perhaps the butterfly is present.
We found a couple of Common Checkered-Skippers on the hill and many Wild Indigo Duskywings there as well.
Making more Indigos
After lunch we went back to another section of Spring Garden and found American Coppers and a single worn Acadian Hairstreak.
My one and only Acadian of the year!
American Coppers
Several more Broad-winged Skippers and couple of Peck's were seen.
Peck's Skipper
Very few swallowtails (Black, Giant, Tiger, Spicebush). I found this Black on Purple Coneflower in the yard when I got home.
Nice to get back to Wallaceburg where it was only 29 degrees.
Tomorrow is the Rondeau count, so hopefully things are flying. A flyby of a frigatebird would be interesting as well.
I was pretty shocked to see low numbers of leps on Pelee Island over the past few days... I didn't have any Pipevine, Spicebush or Tiger Swallowtails over 3 days of looking!! Nice to see I'm not 100% crazy....
ReplyDeleteLove the sedge skipper pics!
Blake, I was looking forward to reading how today's count went. Butterflies have been sparse this year.
ReplyDeleteWe just wrapped up the Long Point Count. I'm still tallying numbers but we too had good numbers of Broad-winged Skippers and the like. Looks like around 54-55 species, new highs for 14! species, and 3 new for the count! Blog to be updated in a day or two.
ReplyDelete