Skippers of the Eastern Shore

Posted on July 30, 2013 by admin

I went on a birding trip this past weekend to Delaware beaches and brackish areas with the Potomac Valley Audubon to look for migrating shorebirds. Of course, I was also looking for butterflies along the way and came across four lifers. Many of the species we see here in the eastern panhandle are also common on the shore but there are habitat specialists that favor the coastal plain. Three out of the four species presented here (Broad-winged Skipper, Aaron’s Skipper and Salt Marsh Skipper) have an affinity towards salt or brackish marshes. The Swarthy Skipper does not and can be found in our local area.Aaron's SkipperBroad-winged SkipperSwarthy SkipperSalt Marsh Skipper

Posted in Remote Trip, Skippers | Leave a comment

A Gem of a day + a bonus

Posted on July 21, 2013 by admin

I spent a few hours in Monroe county looking for Diana Fritillary around the Potts Creek WMA area. Saw a number of the expected species for this time of year along Waiteville road and up on the ridge line along the Allegheny trail. Weather was in the low to mid 80’s with a breeze so it didn’t feel too bad. I was taking a walk towards the Hanging Rock raptor observation tower from the parking lot on county route 15 and came across three Gemmed Satyrs fluttering about in the mostly shaded woods. Lifer for me and a beautiful butterfly!Gemmed Satyr

On the way back down the mountain I came across a 3 1/2 – 4 ft long Timber Rattlesnake. Only the third one I’ve seen in WV. I don’t go out looking for them(:> Sorry, just had to put this in the blog…Timber Rattlesnake

Posted in Satyrs, WV Trip | Leave a comment

Pearl Crescent party – Preston County

Posted on July 21, 2013 by admin

Gary Felton took this nice shot of a couple of Pearl Crescents getting their act together(:> Taken in Preston county, WV. This species shows a lot of variability and can some sometimes be confused at first glance with the larger Silvery Checkerspot.Pearl Crescents

Posted in Brush-footed | Leave a comment

Common Sootywing, White Admiral, Tawny Emperor

Posted on July 18, 2013 by admin

During a pre-lunch walk along fields off of Bardane road in Jefferson county I came across many Sulphurs, and few Swallowtails and a first of year (FOY) Common Sootywing. Always nice to see this small, dark skipper. They seem to love disturbed pastures, roadsides, vacant lots (as in undeveloped developments).

Then.this afternoon I took a walk around our block. Four homes along the route have Butterfly Bushes so it’s quite convenient for me to browse them. Today provided good looks at a White Admiral. White Admiral or Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) is a polytypic species. In tihs case the subspecies is Limenitis arthemis arthemis. Finally, another neighbor’s Butterfly Bush contained a new WV species for year, Tawny Emperor (I had seen one in June in Loudoun County, VA). As always, you can click on any image for a larger version…
Common Sootywing

White Admiral
 White Admiral
Posted in Brush-footed, Skippers | Leave a comment

Snowberry Clearwing

Posted on July 16, 2013 by admin

We present a moth today because it’s cool. I went for a lunch time walk at Cool Spring in southern Jefferson county. It was anything but cool as the temps hovered around 90 degrees with the humidity off the charts. Tallied 16 species including a female Sachem. Not that that’s much of a big deal but given the recent dearth of skippers in the eastern panhandle it makes this noteworthy. More will be coming!

Snowberry ClearwingQuestion Mark

Species:
  Black Swallowtail          1
  Eastern Tiger Swallowtail  7
  Spicebush Swallowtail      2
  Cabbage White              X
  Clouded Sulphur            4
  Orange Sulphur             7
  Eastern Tailed-Blue        4
  Silvery Checkerspot        3
  Pearl Crescent             X
  Question Mark              1
  Red-spotted Purple         1
  Viceroy                    3
  Common Wood-Nymph          5
  Silver-spotted Skipper     2
  Least Skipper              1
  Sachem (female)            1
Posted in Blues, Brush-footed, Skippers, Swallowtails, Whites and Sulphurs | 2 Comments