As a follow up to the “Introduction to Butteflies” session that was held on May 21st the field trip to Shannondale Springs WMA on May 24th was excellent. Over the course of 3 1/2 hours the 8 participants found 14 species. There are more butteflies on the wing now than a week ago and that will be going up in the next couple of weeks as fritillaries, more hairstreaks and grass skippers take to the skies. It will be fun to witness. On a personal note the Silvery Checkerspots, Red-spotted Purple, Sachem and Zabulon Skippers were “first of year”.
* = FOY Zebra Swallowtail 7 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 6 Juniper Hairstreak 1 Esatern Tailed-Blue 6 azure sp. 2 (most likely C. neglecta) *Silvery Checkerspot 2 Pearl Crescent 1 *Red-spotted Purple 1 Silver-spotted Skipper 6 Juvenal's Duskywing 1 Wild Indigo Duskywing 1 *Sachem 1 *Zabulon Skipper 3