South Jersey Butterfly B/Log

December 2012 Compilation

Posted on December 30, 2012 by connorj

Black swallowtail caterpillar photo’d by Will Kerling on 12-22-12 in Cape May Point. (When will we see the first flying adults of this species in 2013?)

Nine butterfly species flew in South Jersey in December:

On 12-18-12 we set new record late dates for three species: question mark (old late date of 11-30-11), American lady (previous late date of 12-15-11), and painted lady (previous late date of 12-4-09).

Several observers in different spots on 12-3-12 tied the record late date for cloudless sulphur of 12-3-09.

Black swallowtail was the tenth species active in the month, although we found only caterpillars and chrysalids.

Red admiral was the most frequently reported December species with 38 records totaling ~96 individual adults. Orange sulphur was reported in 30 entries, totaling ~115 individuals.

As expected, the majority of reports came from Cape May County, but our observers also spotted flying butterflies in Gloucester, Burlington, Cumberland.

Thanks to all of you who kept your eyes open for the last butterflies of the year.

Please see Will K’s note about the “Fab Four” posted below, especially the three species that now have been reported active more than 20 months in a row. The coming two months will be a challenge for them to keep up that streak — and for us to be out there to record their flights!

Our cold-weather, sharp-eyed observers reporting sightings in December included:

Amy Gaberlien
Beth Polvino
Bill Schul
Brian Johnson
Catherine Busch
Chip Krilowicz
Chris Vogel
Clay Sutton
Cynthia Allen
Dave Amadio
Doug Gochfeld
Glen Davis
Jim Dowdell
Josh Nemeth
Kathy Horn
Karl Lukens
Mike Crewe
Michael O’Brien
Louise Zematis
Pat Amadio
Pat Sutton
Patti Domm
Ray Duffy
Rhea Dougherty
Sam Galick
Sandra Keller
Steve Ziegler
Tom Magerin
Tom Reed
Tony Leukering
Will Kerling

Thanks so much for keeping our log going!

Have a wonderful, nature-filled 2013, everyone!

Here’s a spreadsheet of all December 2012 records. Hit the + sign for easier viewing.

December 2012 Spreadsheet

Posted in Eggs, Cats, Chrysalids, Late Dates, Nymphalids, Pierids | Comments Off

Will K on Year’s Close

Posted on December 28, 2012 by connorj

Red admiral photo’d by Will Kerling on 12-4-12 at Cape May Point. This species will apparently be the last recorded this year — on 12-23-12, also by Will.

Will Kerling has been carefully following the persistence of four species of butterflies he has dubbed “The Fab Four”: orange sulphur, common buckeye, red admiral, and mourning cloak. All were recorded each month of this year January to November, and only the last did not appear for us this month. Their persistence goes back longer than that, however, as he notes here:

We had an orange sulphur entry on 3.26.11 which lead to records for them every month since, through December 2012: 22 straight months for this species!

The red admiral had a mid-April 2011 entry (4.14.11) which lead to records for them every month through December 2012: 21 straight months for this species!

The common buckeye had an entry on 4.11.11 which lead to records for them every month through December 2012: 21 straight months for this species!

Will 2013 continue any of these streaks?

December 23, 2012 was my last Butterfly Day unless a total miracle happens (Butterfly Days for 2012 = 299*). Unless someone finds a mourning cloak in a tree well, a shed or something of the sort we will miss it only in December of this year.

My entry of red admiral on December 23rd, 2012 in the Cape May Point State Park (2:05 pm) will probably be the last butterfly entry of 2012.

* Butterfly Day = a date with at least one observation of butterfly.

Will has recorded at least one butterfly, and usually many more, on 299 days in 2012. That is an amazing record. Congratulations and big thank-you to our leading contributor!

Posted in Late Dates, Looking At Our Data, Nymphalids, Pierids | Comments Off

November In-Progress & Finally

Posted on November 12, 2012 by connorj

Can we still call it a summer azure? Photo by Will Kerling on 11-11-12 at Cape May Point.

I’ve updated the original November 12 post below by adding the final compilation for the month and the list of November’s contributors.

11-12-12:

Yesterday’s warm weather brought out the butterflyers and the butterflies. We had seventeen different observers out and about (and reporting) and we found sixteen species in a single November day.

At the moment we have recorded eighteen species for the month:

black swallowtail (caterpillars only)
cabbage white
clouded sulphur
orange sulphur
cloudless sulphur
eastern tailed blue
summer azure
pearl crescent
question mark
eastern comma
mourning cloak
American lady
painted lady
red admiral
common buckeye
monarch
fiery skipper
sachem

The two species seen earlier in the month but not reported yesterday are eastern comma (reported on 11-10-12) and fiery skipper (seen this month only on 11-1-12).

Last fall we recorded nineteen species for the month. Two falls ago, 2010, we had our best November in our five years of logging, recording twenty-three species. Three species found in both those Novembers and not yet recorded this month are American snout, variegated fritillary, and common checkered skipper. Has the storm limited our chances of finding any of those three this year? The last snout this year (so far) was seen on 10-26; the last sightings of fritillary and checkered skipper were both on 10-21.

Good luck out there, everyone!

Update 11-12-12: Chip Krilowicz has found our 19th species for the month. Thank you, Chip!

Variegated fritillary 11-12-12 at Pennington Farm. Photo by Chip Krilowicz.

Final November Update and Compilation:

Chip’s variegated was the last new species added for the month of November and we ended with nineteen for the month.

Here’s the compilation for all records for the month. Hit the plus sign for easier viewing:

November 2012 Spreadsheet PDF

Thanks to each of who contributed your observations in November, 2012:

Beth Polvino
Bill Schul
Brian Johnson
Bridget and Patrick O’Connor
Catherine Busch
Chip Krilowicz
Chris Hajauk
Chris Herz
Chris Tonkinson
Chris & Paula Williams
Clay Sutton
Cynthia Allen
Dave Amadio
Edie Schul
Gabe Johnson
Gibson Reynolds
Glen Davis
Jack Connor
Jackie Parker
Jean Gutsmuth
Jim Dowdell
Karl Lukens
Kathy Horn
Mike Crewe
Pat Amadio
Pat Sutton
Patti Domm
Pete Dunn
Peter Bosak
Richard Crossley
Roger Horn
Sam Galick
Sandra Keller
Shawn & Jessica Wainwright
Tiffany Kersten
Tom Reed
Vince Elia
Will Kerling

Let me know if I overlooked anyone.

Have a refreshing winter break, South Jersey butterflyers, and see you right back here come next spring — or maybe come another “winter” like 2012’s, when butterflies flew in every month.

Posted in Late Dates, Looking At Our Data | Comments Off

October Compilation

Posted on November 4, 2012 by connorj

Will Kerling photo’d this orange sulphur, apparently a survivor of Hurricane Sandy on 10-31-12, two days after the storm made landfall.

Superstorm Sandy’s high winds, devastating surf, and extensive damage to dunes, beaches, houses, businesses, parks, and wildlife areas meant October 2012 ended with bad news. Until those last few days, we were having another excellent month.

Observers reported 47 species in October, several on new late dates:

cabbage white
clouded sulphur
orange sulphur
cloudless sulphur
little yellow (multiple reports for 5th month)
sleepy orange

American copper
white-m hairstreak
gray hairstreak
red-banded hairstreak
eastern tailed-blue
summer azure

American snout
variegated fritillary
pearl crescent
questionmark
eastern comma
mourning cloak
American lady
painted lady
red admiral
common buckeye
red-spotted purple
viceroy
monarch

silver-spotted skipper
long-tailed skipper (93 reports and new late date: 10-24)
Horace’s duskywing (new late date: 10-24)
wild indigo duskywing (new late date: 10-25)
common checkered skipper
swarthy skipper
clouded skipper (new late date:10-14)
least skipper
fiery skipper
Peck’s skipper
tawny-edged skipper (new l.d.: 10-5)
little glassywing (new l.d.:10-11)
sachem
zabulon skipper
broad-winged skipper (new l.d.:10-5)
dun skipper
Brazilian skipper (app. 4 different individuals)
saltmarsh skipper
Ocola skipper

Fresh cloudless sulphur egg photo’d by Will Kerling on 10-26-12.

Our total of 2287 records for the month brought our total for the year to 18,000+, already 5K more than our previous high for a single year (13,400 in 2010) — and we have November and December yet to come.

Thanks to each of who contributed your observations in October, 2012:

Amy Gaberlain
Anita Richmond
Brian Johnson
Chip Krilowicz
Chris Herz
Chris Tonkinson
Clay Sutton
Cynthia Allen
Dave Amadio
Dick Walton
Donna Desjardins
Donna Grygiel
Elle McGee
Evelyn Fowles
Gabe Johnson
Jack Connor
Jackie Parker
Jean Gutsmuth
Jesse Connor
Jim Dowdell
Keith Richmond
Mike Crewe
Mike Fowles
Mike Hannisen
Michael O’ Brien
Pat Sutton
Pat Amadio
Peter Bosak
Rhea Doherty
Sam Galick
Sandra Keller
Shawn Wainwright
Steve Glynn
Tiffany Kersten
Will Kerling

Keep them coming, everyone.

Here’s a significant find that came in a little late to be included in our original compilation of September reports: a sleepy orange found and photo’d by Deni Regensburg in her garden in Ocean View on 9-28-12. This record will be added into the end-of-year compilation.

For the full spreadsheet for October, go to the link below and hit the + sign for easier viewing:

October 2012 Compilation

Posted in Late Dates, Looking At Our Data | Comments Off

Hybrid Viceroy

Posted on October 21, 2012 by connorj

Dave Amadio’s sharp observing led him to photograph this apparently hybrid butterfly in his backyard in West Deptford on October 19. He reports:

This is at least the 2nd Limenitis archippus/arthemis hybrid that I have seen this year. I had one in Chestertown, Maryland, earlier.

This one is only about eastern comma or buckeye-sized. The red spotting on the HW & red spot/bar on the FW are clearly visible. Also in the dorsal view the HW borders look more like red-spotted purple with a hint of blue.

Opler states, “Sterile male hybrids resulting from crosses between the viceroy and the red-spotted purple or white admiral are rarely found in nature.”

Dave’s photo of the ventral surface:

Congratulations to Dave on another excellent find — and for providing more evidence that nature’s mysteries can appear just a few steps from our backdoors, when we look carefully enough.

Posted in Nymphalids | Comments Off

Congratulations to all of us!

Posted on October 7, 2012 by connorj

Sam Galick photo’d this leucistic monarch among the many thousands of monarchs seen at Cape May on 9-29-12.

Update (10-8-12): Link to September compilation now included here (scroll about 4/5 down).

Whew, thank goodness for a rainy day this morning and some time to reflect back over the excitement and action of South Jersey butterflying during the past eight or ten weeks.

Some of the highlights:

–>little-known or unknown colonies of both checkered white and harvester discovered in our area;

–>giant swallowtails in at least four different locations;

–>little yellows so numerous and widely scattered they seem almost expected (and perhaps even under-appreciated in the flurry of other rarities?);

–>a spectacular southbound flight of painted ladies;

–>a spectacular northbound flight of long-tailed skippers with sightings in seven of our eight counties (and also in at least a few counties in North Jersey);

–>Ocola skippers and fiery skippers sweeping into the area as well;

–>Brazilian skippers making what seems almost certainly an unprecedented incursion into our area;

–> one of the best monarch flights of the past twenty years;

and lots else!

Except for the monarchs, which CMBO and others have been diligently and commendably counting for many years, we do not know how the butterfly numbers of this year compare to the flights of ten or twenty years ago. Someone might have personal memories or notes of a late summer/early fall a decade or two ago when the activity matched 2012’s (anyone?), but no previous period like this has been documented as this year’s has been — by so many observers working together throughout the area and compiling so many thousands of reports.

We now have the data to compare this year with any similar future year. Five or ten years from now, we will have our numbers from this year to make real comparisons between 2012 and any similarly action-packed August/September. We will then be in a much better position to know how unusual this year has been.

Thanks to each of you for getting out in the field over the last two months and taking the time to contribute your reports. Whether it was one report or many hundreds of reports, let’s all keep at it!

Amy Gaberlain
Bill Grant
Bill Schuhl
Bob Fogg
Brian Johnson
Bridget O’Connor
Chip Krilowicz
Chris Herz
Chris Tonkinson
Christina Kohler
Clay Sutton
Cynthia Allen
Dale Schweitzer
Dave Amadio
Deb Dowdell
Doyle Dowdell
Doug Johnson
Gail Dwyer
Gibson Reynolds
Jack Connor
Jack Miller
Janet Kuehl
Jean Gutsmuth
Jesse Connor
Jim Dowdell
John Harding
Jon Gelhaus
Katie Montagnaro
Kerri Sellers
Josh Nemeth
Julia Druce
Louise Zematis
Mark Garland
Marilyn Patterson
Matt Webster
Megan Crewe
Mike Crewe
Michael O’ Brien
Pat Sutton
Pat Amadio
Rhea Doherty
Robert Somes
Sam Galick
Sandra Keller
Shawn Wainwright
Simmon Gillings
Stephen Mason
Steve Glynn
Steve Weiss
Steve Whitford
Teresa Knipper
Tiffany Kersten
Tony Clock
Tom Kuehl
Vince Elia
Will Kerling
Yan Li

That’s at least 57 observers who contributed sightings during August and/or September. (Let me know if I overlooked anyone.)

Our total of observations in August — 3300+ — broke our five-year record for any single month, which we had just established the previous month (with 3200+ reports in July).

I can round off those two numbers because this last month we crushed both those totals and all previous months in our five-year history. We more than doubled our totals for September 2011 and we set a new single-month record: in the thirty days of September we compiled 3647 reports.

We found 62 species in September, including two species new for the year: bronze copper on 9-9-12 (found at Mannheim Marsh by Dave Amadio, our only record for the year) and Brazilian skipper on 9-19-12 (first found by Jim & Doyle Dowdell in their yard in Villas). We had more than a hundred individual reports of long-tailed skippers (and an estimated total of 255 individuals, almost certainly an under-count). Some other highlights for the month: sleepy orange was regular in the Dowdells’ garden the entire month (9-2-12 to 9-28-12) and also was found in Cumberland County on 9-1-12 by Brian Johnson. Cloudless sulphur had a wonderful month (especially in contrast to 2011, when it went virtually unreported): more than 200 reports of the species, and an estimated total well over 1000 individuals (again an undercount as several observers could only estimate numbers as they streamed by). Pat and Clay Sutton also reported (and photo’d beautifully) the caterpillars and chrysalids of the species in their garden.

Here’s the complete report for September in pdf form (hit the + for easier viewing):

September 2012 Compilation

….. And as I was typing this, I was interrupted by a phone call from Will Kerling, who has been out this morning — in windbreaker — in search of at least one butterfly he could add to our compilation for the day, despite the wind, drizzle, and low temperatures (high 40s-low 50s).

And what did he find?

A Brazilian skipper in the rain (!), found and photo’d by Will Kerling at a new locale in Cape May, 10-7-12. (The plant seems to be a variegated yellow Canna.)

Under the circumstances, that has to be one of the most startling discoveries of the year… so far.

So, who’s up for running out the door now, onward into October?

Posted in Looking At Our Data, Migration, Pierids, Skippers | Comments Off

Monarchs, Monarchs, Monarchs

Posted on September 30, 2012 by connorj

Monarch roost photo’d by Pat Sutton (details below) 9-25-12.

Lots of us got our starts chasing after butterflies because of fall monarch flights, and the wonderful phenomenon may be peaking for 2012 this weekend, with thousands of individuals along our coast (and inland as well) down to Cape May Point, where generally the largest of congregations can be found. Grab your bins and camera, if you can, and enjoy the pageant!

Here’s a report written from Cape May last night by Pat Sutton.

Thousands of Monarchs were roosting by mid-morning in the dunes at Lincoln and Cape Avenues (along the beachfront), the dune crossover there . . . visible from the street (Lincoln Avenue):

Pat Sutton’s Cape Island Map

Winds were too strong to keep migrating so they kept settling in all day.

It was pure magic. More should be coming today, but between 7:30 and 8:30 this morning you might experience lift off of thousands from that spot / roost . . . unless the winds are still too strong and they just stay & continue to gather there all day today.

Photos from yesterday:
Monitoring Monarchs Blog

My photos from last week (Sept 25) at Stone Harbor Point (in Red Cedars west of 3rd Avenue), which is where I’m going this morning before I dash down to Cape May Point:

Pat & Clay Sutton’s Nature Blog

Go to the Suttons’ blog for more photos and lots of info — about monarchs and lots else.

Enjoy the flight, everyone!

Posted in Migration, Nymphalids | Comments Off

Skipper Madness Continues

Posted on September 29, 2012 by connorj

Brazilian skipper, photo’d by Steve Glynn at Woodland Village, Clermont (Cape May Co) 9-27-12.

Our newest contributing observer, Steve Glynn of Millville, jumped into our pool with a big splash last week, by recording our 4th record of Brazilian skipper for the year (and only the 5th in the five years of our log’s existence). Steve considered the possibility that it had escaped from the “Imagine Butterflies” exhibit. Apparently, however, Brazilian skippers are not kept in that museum (may even be legally forbidden): they are considered a pest species (as caterpillars) and they also lack the big wings and gaudy colors butterfly museums prefer. Steve’s skipper is almost certainly a free-flying individual that has come a long, long way by self-propulsion from its home range — as have the others so far located this year.

So far, all four reports of the species have come from Cape May. Is there a sharp & lucky observer out there who can add a record from north of the peninsula? That would be a first for New Jersey, it seems, and this might very well be the year to do it!

Brazilian skipper found by Chris Tonkinson and Will Kerling, on Beach Avenue in North Cape May, 9-22-12, photo’d by Will Kerling.

We have also had three records this month of clouded skipper, which is both rare (no log records in 2011, one in 2010, none in 2009), and also tough to ID. The dusty edging on ventral wings can be reminiscent of a female zabulon, but clouded is less flashy in most lights (so say the observers who have seen it).

Chris Tonkinson found the third and most recent individual on 9-23-12 at Cape May Point State Park, and we have photographs from two contributors documenting her find:

Clouded skipper photo’d by Sam Galick at Cape May Point State Park, 9-23-12.

Clouded skipper photo’d by Will Kerling at Cape May Point State Park, 9-23-12.

Congratulations to the finders and photogs above!

Our log’s next challenge: can we “spread the wealth” around by finding either of these skipper rarities north of the peninusula?

Keep exploring and logging, everyone!

Posted in Looking At Our Data, Skippers | Comments Off

Meanwhile, North of Cape May. . .

Posted on September 24, 2012 by connorj

Bronze copper, our only report of the year, photo’d by Dave Amadio on Sunset Drive, Salem County, 9-9-12.

As everyone who visits our log knows by now, Cape May has been the hottest of hot spots for the last couple of weeks, drawing an amazing array of butterflies (and butterflyers), giving us multiple reports of a mind-boggling list of rarities. It’s some show down there!

But let’s not forget the rest of our area. Scroll through our log a little to see what’s happening in our “northern” counties and you will find that the butterflying is very good elsewhere across our whole region as well.

Some highlights north of Cape May include:

Dave Amadio found four harvesters (remember them?) still flying at Chestnut River Branch in Gloucester County on 9-16-12.

Chip Krilowicz photo’d eight harvester caterpillars in Laurel Ravine in Camden County on 9-6-12. He also photo’d fiery skipper in his yard in Haddonfield, Camden County, on 9-6-12 and recorded the same species at Palmyra Cove Nature Center, Burlington County, on 9-20-12. Chip added Burlington County to our list of long-tailed skipper records with his find there in Pennington Park on 9-20-12.

Chris Herz had twenty-one common checkered skippers at Gloucester Community College on 9-13-12 and hit double digits again a few days later with fourteen on 9-17-12. She also had both a dark-form female tiger swallowtail and a fiery skipper at Riverwinds in Gloucester on 9-16-12.

Brian Johnson found at least thirty common checkered skippers on Bayside Road in Cumberland County on 9-15-12.

Both Brian Johnson and Dale Schweitzer recorded long-tailed skippers in Cumberland County, in or near Port Norris, on 9-7-12 and 9-17-12 respectively.

Matt Webster had a long-tailed in his yard in Camden County on 9-17-12.

Shawn Wainwright had a long-tailed in his yard in Toms River in Ocean County on two successive days, 9-21-12 and 9-22-12. Shawn also photo’d an Ocola there on 9-21-12, giving us our 5th county for that species this year: Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, Gloucester, and Ocean.

Jesse Connor’s garden in Port Republic in Atlantic County drew a long-tailed skipper to the same Verbena plant already hosting a fiery skipper and Ocola skipper, so that all three “southern strays” were nectaring there simultaneously, on 9-23-12. A few minutes later, a second long-tailed joined the first.

Side-by-side long-tailed skippers in Port Republic (Atlantic Co), 9-23-12.

Outside our region, but not too far, Michael Gochfeld and Joanna Burger’s garden in Somerset County brought in their first long-tailed skipper on 9-21-12.

That gives us long-tailed records for six of our area’s eight counties (Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Ocean) and one in Somerset. So, long-tails have appeared in at least seven counties in the state this year — with more to come, almost certainly, farther north, and maybe also to the west in Gloucester and Salem.

Can we find a long-tail in each of South Jersey eight counties in one season? That would be a very cool record of butterflyers’ team work, and maybe something never previously accomplished (?).

Keep those reports coming, everyone! What a year!

9-25-12 Update: In response to this post Michael Gochfeld has passed along a report of a long-tailed skipper at Overpeck Park (Teaneck) by the GW Bridge area. The date is not certain, but that adds Bergen County to the NJ records this year.

9-26-12 Update: Will Kerling reports: “Under the NABA Butterfly Sightings, there is an entry (with photos) for Betty Lampkin’s sighting of a Long-tailed Skipper on Sept. 25, 2012. The site is a garden at Cedar Crest Retirement Village next to Mountainship Park – Morris County, NJ.”

So, those two reports mean long-tailed skippers have been seen in at least nine counties in the state this year: Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Ocean, Somerset, Bergen, and Morris.

Please pass along any reports from outside South Jersey (and keep logging any inside SJ!). It will be interesting to see how widespread this year’s invasion becomes.

Posted in Looking At Our Data, Lycaenids, Migration, Nymphalids, Out-of-Area Reports, Skippers, Swallowtails | Comments Off

The Southern Story Continues…

Posted on September 17, 2012 by connorj

Long-tailed skipper photo’d by Gibson Reynolds in the Cape May Meadows, 9-14-12.

This year’s invasion of southern species continues as Ocola and long-tailed skippers have become amazingly numerous in southernmost NJ.

Ocola skipper photo’d by Will Kerling in Cape May Point, 9-15-12.

Our August/September irruption cannot be unquestionably tied to climate change. As Paul Kerlinger, former director of CMBO, used to say when looking at hawk watch totals, “One year of data cannot be a trend.” This year’s numbers are more clearly evidence of a good year for these southern species in their regular breeding ranges south of us. Good numbers there means more individuals from those species can wander our way, following the “source and sink” path they have long followed.

Nevertheless, it’s hard not to think about longer-term trends, and those trends have been making the news lately. Here’s a short and worthy piece that appeared on NBC News recently — about the changes in the populations of Massachusetts butterfly species (some northern species disappearing while many southern species are increasing) over the last twenty years.

NBC Nightly News on Massachusetts butterflies

Keep exploring, everyone!

Long-tailed skipper photo’d by Will Kerling in Cape May Point, 9-16-12.

For the scientific report that sparked the NBC coverage, go to Another Good Reason To Do What We Do

Posted in Migration, Skippers | Comments Off