Our log did well in October. Despite the inevitable decline of butterfly diversity and numbers as autumn days grow shorter and colder, we logged more reports in October (173) than in September (163), which was our first month using the David Reese system. The new system seems to be working smoothly and encouraging us to keep reporting. Credit and congratulations to David for his helpful, voluntary, and very successful work.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to our log in October: David and Pat Amadio, Jesse Amesbury, Tom Bailey, Jesse and Jack Connor, Jim Dowdell, Amy Gaberlein, Steve Glynn, Jean Gutsmuth, Chris Herz and Mike Russell, Brian Johnson, Sandra Keller, Teresa Knipper, Chip Krilowicz, Jack Miller, Jenna McCoy, Beth Polvino, Pat & Clay Sutton, Harvey Tomlinson, and Matt Webster.
To see all 60+ photographs and all reports posted by observers during the month, go to our log at the link below. You can scroll backward chronologically through the most recent two weeks, or you can click on October 2015 (under Sighting Archive) to move through the month from the beginning. Click to enlarge any photo and hit ESC to return to the report.
For a brief tour of some of the best and most interesting photos (not previously posted on this blog), keep scrolling here:
A common checkered skipper at Timber Creek, CAM, photographed by Chip Krilowicz on 10-4-15
Long-tailed skipper at Cape May Point’s Triangle Garden, photo’d by Harvey Tomlinson on 10-7-15.
Common checkered skipper photo’d by Beth Polvino in her yard in North Cape May on 10-8-15.
Painted lady at Marilyn Patterson’s garden in SAL, photo’d by Sandra Keller on 10-9-15.
A fiery skipper, also in Marilyn Patterson’s garden, and photo’d by Sandra Keller on 10-9-15.
This Ocola skipper was a first for Dave and Pat Amadio’s garden in West Deptford, GLO, on 10-11-15.
This sleepy orange, found and photo’d by Harvey Tomlinson at Cape May, on 10-13-15, was our first report of this rarity since 11-19-2013.
The most unusual butterfly of the month? (of all 2015??): an apparently leucistic pearl crescent found and photo’d by Jack Miller at Heislerville, CUM, on 10-13-15.
A painted lady at Cape May Point on 10-14-15 by Steve Glynn.
A tagged monarch on Wilden Ave, Cape May, by Beth Polvino on 10-15-15.
A female orange sulphur at Coxhall Creek, CMY, by Harvey Tomlinson on 10-15-15.
A variegated fritillary caterpillar at Chestnut Branch GLO by David Amadio 10-16-15.
A red admiral at Cape May Point, by Steve Glynn on 10-21-15.
A monarch chrysalis photo’d by Beth Polvino in her garden in North Cape May on 10-26-15.
A red admiral at Riverwinds, GLO, by Chris Herz on 10-29-15.
A male fiery skipper by Tom Bailey at Palmyra Cove, BUR, on 10-31-15.
If the November weather allows it, keep those reports and photos coming, everyone!
Jack Connor