Well, Summer is here with the hottest temps of the season on the way. Fortunately, the temperatures at Finzel Swamp (Allegany county, MD) yesterday were around 80 with light winds and mostly sunny skies. It appears that Black Dash Skippers have emerged recently as I didn’t run into any the previous weekend. Skipper species appear to be picking up with more Delaware Skippers seen this week. Appalachian Browns are now joined by Common Wood-Nymph. I found my first ever Black Dash‘s (5) along the trail beyond the third small trial bridge over the swamp. A lingering Baltimore Checkerspot was seen. In all 23 species which included a couple seen on the way there.
When I got back to my car modifications were being completed on installation of a cloaking device (the Klingon’s will have nothing on me…)
Species List is as follows:
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (2) Black Swallowtail (1) Cabbage White (X) Clouded Sulphur (1) Orange Sulphur (10) Eastern Tailed-Blue (7) Summer Azure (2) Variegated Fritillary (1) Great Spangled Fritillary (4) Meadow Fritillary (3) Pearl Crescent (2) Baltimore Checkerspot (1) Mourning Cloak (1) Red-spotted Purple (2) Appalachian Brown (6) Common Wood-Nymph (2) Silver-spotted Skipper (5) European Skipper (6) Peck's Skipper (1) Little Glassywing (4) Delaware Skipper (3) Black Dash (5) Dun Skipper (1)