IT IS A VERY SLOW SPRING IE Cold Damp

Hi and welcome back again. It is and has been a very slow cold spring and as looking over past years first sightings and dates my observation are confirmed. It is slow most everywhere in our tri-state or even quad-state area by reports mostly on the Internet. Southern New Jersey has a great group from Stockton University called 'South Jersey Butterfly Blog' that keeps absolutely great records of sightings and dates of all butterflies seen. Lancaster County Butterfly and Entomology Club also does likewise, hence first sightings and dates can be used with great accuracy. Since I have nothing new to show you I will post another pix of a common and usually considered bland butterfly. Here is a Cabbage White or White Sulphur nectaring on Purple Deadnettle also very common early spring flower. However both in combination makes for a great view. Have a great day, Denis

MOURNING CLOAK- a STUNNINGLY SOFT VELVETY LOOK

Hi Again, Here is the softest velvety looking butterfly that I have ever seen. It looks brownish/red color with a wide yellow to almost tan  margin, and a row of blue submarginal spots. However the underside, seen when the wings are folded up, appears almost a web of dark brown to black with the yellowish tan margin making an almost perfect camouflage pattern. This butterfly overwinter as an adult and stays hidden in the bark and crevices of trees, coming to life when it becomes warmer in late winter. I have been looking since mid February on any sunny day when the temperature is over 50°. With sun shining on the forest floor and the thick woods sheltering the area from strong winter winds it is nice on the southern slopes. Since this species does not nectar on flowers, but rather sap that flows in late winter when it warms up a little. Here are a couple of shots that are not the best, enjoy. Have a great day, Denis

THE EASTERN COMMA, an ANGLEWING BUTTERFLY

Hi and welcome to spring, finally here for spurts anyway. The weather has been cold and damp for most of March and even well into April with few exceptions. I have been walking mid-day in the southerly slopes of our woods seeking an early one of the overwintering as adult butterfly types. Not to be had this season and almost all sightings are very late anywhere in my tri-state area. Our Plumb and Cherry trees are blooming out and this is where I found my first Eastern Comma, a very similar butterfly to the Question Mark. It also seems that the Comma today was very spooky and would not allow me to get anywhere closer than 30 feet distant. Have a great day, Denis

FINALLY !

Hi again, This year has started off very slow as it has been quite cold and wet for the entire month of March for the most part. Finally today some butterflies have either emerged or come out of hiding. My first Butterfly seen was at 10:52 in my garden, to the rear of the house. The garden is split by a road/path and has nothing planted so far this season. Quite late, I might add. After seeing the first butterfly, A Cabbage White, my son and I took a walk along our wood's edge and at the end of the field there were two (2) , yep two Question Marks flying in the windy shady area of the large agricultural field. I usually get Question Marks insde the woods on the southern slope that is protected from wind by the heavy woods/trees. Here are two, not so good, photos of each. Best to you this Spring. Denis

Small purple flowers are Purple Deadnettle, both above and below