This post will recap the more exciting finds of 2019. I really didn’t do too much butterfly wise in 2019 due to a number of factors. The spring was wet and weekends always seemed to be messed up. I was also counting down towards retirement and everything that comes with that. Other than a few local trips I only made four butterfly outings beyond the immediate area; 1) Florida – April, 2) North Carolina – June, 3) Rickett’s Glen, PA – July and 4) Lower Rio Grande Valley – November.
Barry Marts and I were on the first three trips together. In April we drove most of the Florida peninsula in search of 2 birds; American Flamingo, Key West Quail-Dove and 2 butterflies; Oak Hairstreak and Goatweed Leafwing. We were successful with all four.
Florida: The Quail-Dove took 5 hrs of searching but finally was located in brambles under a fig tree. I personally had spent 40 hours over many days on previous trips in the Florida Keys looking for this species. The American Flamingo was at St. Mark’s NWR. The “Southern” Oak Hairstreak was at St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park and the Goatweed Leafwing was at Suwannee River State Park. Many thanks to our good friends Mark and Holly Salvato for helping with location information regarding the leps!
North Carolina: We went to the Sandhills area in south central North Carolina in search of Yehl Skipper and King’s Hairstreak. Barry and I helped out on the butterfly count at Weymouth Woods and saw 5 hairstreak species.
Pennsylvania: Our yearly summer trip to Rickett’s Glen State Park. A beautiful area ladened with waterfalls. No Tortoiseshells this trip but 30 species were seen highlighted by Eyed Brown, Dion Skipper and Bog Coppers.
Lower Rio Grande Valley: Recently returned from three weeks in the valley. Severe summer drought affected timing and species diversity while I was there. For sure the worst numbers I’ve encountered in my 7 years going in November. Having said that the week after I left many new and rare species started to be found… always happens right? Notables on this trip were a lifer Manuel’s Skipper, multiple Blomfild’s Beauties and several White-angled Sulphurs. It was also a banner season for White-patched Skippers.
97 species for the trip (In contrast Barry and I saw 135 species in 2017).
A few photos below of the lifers and some highlights. I’m going to get into the field more next season with hopefully a trip to southern California in the spring.
Click on any image to enlarge
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