Boothe Park Hawk Watch 9/12 – 182 migrant raptors
We had a decent day at the Boothe Park Hawk Watch in Stratford, Connecticut yesterday, considering the deep blue sky in control, as we tallied 182 migrant raptors filling in the 9:30-4:30 time frame. Having no clouds in the sky makes it very difficult to spot hawks, eagles, falcons, vultures and so forth flying at altitudes in the thousands of feet. Light clouds, especially cirrus, provide a helpful backdrop to view them on without obscuring any or dumping precipitation which would stop the birds from moving south. In essence many migrants likely flew by right over our heads that we could...
Read MoreMonarch caterpillar
Monarch butterfly caterpillars like this one have been seen in higher than typical numbers, compared to recent years, in some areas. However, others in the region have told me they have seen a total of zero. It seems to be a year of dissenting data. Even last week at a meeting of naturalists from across the Chautauqua-Allegheny region we had some people excitedly reporting improved Monarch numbers while others dolefully spoke of few or none. The butterflies continue to be seen here and there and you should keep an eye out for them during this migratory period. I will be surveying the shores...
Read MoreRed-spotted Purple butterfly
I saw this distant Red-spotted Purple butterfly yesterday morning while finding some migrant warblers, vireos and flycatchers. There are still plenty of butterflies hanging on here as we enter mid-September despite nights with chilly temperatures in the low 40s.
Read MoreBlack Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
I have not seen many Black Swallowtails this year with a few here or there at best – what about you? I had been seeing an abundance of the common Eastern Tiger Swallowtail throughout the spring until their numbers plummeted to near zero in my experience Western New York throughout the summer. It continually astounds me how localized populations of even the more frequently seen species can be and how rapidly and unexpectedly their numbers can fluctuate. Nature is a delicate balance.
Read MoreBountiful butterflies
It is hard to believe we are already about to enter September! After having above-average rainfall and average to below-average temperatures for much of the summer here in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region the second half of August turned out to be sunny and warm with a lot of lepidoptera on the wing and in our gardens. This is a traditionally wonderful month for butterflies. I have posted a bunch of neat sightings but here are more of the common species you have probably enjoyed in your yard. I have been looking and hoping for a Giant Swallowtail, among other rarities, but it is nevertheless...
Read More
