Surveys, field trips, monthly local walks, and counts are open to anyone interested in seeing or learning about Monterey County butterflies
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Participants should bring water and a lunch or snacks. Many outings are all-day. (monthly local walks are half-day). You may drive separately if you wish to leave early. Binoculars and/or camera are recommended; butterfly nets may be used for catch-and-release identification
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For meeting time and place, Contact Chris Tenney, 831-241-4820; tenneyx2@mac.com
Added last-minute outing: Garland Ranch
Wednesday, May 8 temps expected 65-70
call or email for detrails
Next 2024 outing: Long Canyon (and Piney creek)
Friday, May 10 temps expected 75-85
25 species possible
2024 Outings Schedule
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surveys (S) precise dates are weather-dependent, and will be posted at least several days before each survey; these surveys often target rare or difficult-to-find species
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butterfly counts (C) are scheduled for early June; exact dates will be posted following coordination with other California counts
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field trips (F) are planned for a few species-rich areas at the best time of year; the dates below are only approximate, and will be firmed up as the seasonal phenology progresses
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monthly peninsula-area walks (W) short half-day trips in the peninsula area; species and numbers will be counted to monitor seasonal changes in local butterfly populations
Outings every month
W: date TBD
Hatton Canyon and Soberanes Creek - on good weather days, butterflies can be active all months of the year in these peninsula-area canyons; species counts vary from just a few in Dec-Jan to 20 or more in May-June
January
S: 1-28-24
Partington Canyon - Sonoran Blue
S: 1-29-24
Hatton Canyon or Partington Canyon
S: date TBD
February
March
S: 3-8-24
F: 3-17 to 3-18
S: 4-16-24
April
Partington Canyon - Sonoran Blue
Garland Ranch RP - Sonoran Blue, 15+ species
S: 3-15-24
Garland Ranch - early scouting trip
King City and Parkfield - possible Edith's Checkerspot, Spring White, etc.
S: 3-20-24
Piney Creek Road - 19 species this week.
S: 3-25 to 3-26
Fort Hunter Liggett - early scouting trip
S: 4-29-24
East Carmel Valley Road - Common Sootywing, Edith's Checkerspot
May
S: 5-1-24
Hatton Canyon and Soberanes creek
F: date TBD
Pine Canyon Road - hairstreaks, 30+ possible species
F: date TBD
Carmel Valley Road and Arroyo Seco - coppers, checkerspots, 30+ possible species
S: date TBD
Parkfield area - Lindsey's Skipper, Lupine Blue
S: date TBD
South Coast Ridge Road - Muir's Hairstreak
S: date TBD
Cone Peak - Arrowhead Blue, Sleepy Duskywing
S: date TBD
Partington Canyon - Moss' Elfin
C: 6-2-24
Butterfly count at Pinnacles National Park
June
S: date TBD
Parkfield area - Lindsey's Skipper, Lupine Blue
C: 6-7-24
C: 6-8-24
C: 6-9-24
Butterfly count at UC Big Creek Reserve
Butterfly count at UC Hastings Reservation
Butterfly count at Monterey
F: date TBD
Fort Hunter Liggett - hairstreaks, coppers, checkerspots, etc.; 30+ possible species
F: date TBD
Chews Ridge - fritillaries, hairstreaks, coppers, checkerspots, etc.; 30+ possible species
July
F: date TBD
F: date TBD
Fort Hunter Liggett - hairstreaks, coppers, checkerspots, etc.; 30+ possible species
Chews Ridge - fritillaries, hairstreaks, coppers, checkerspots, etc.; 30+ possible species
F: date TBD
Fort Hunter Liggett - hairstreaks, coppers, checkerspots, etc.; 30+ possible species
S: 5-10-24
East Carmel Valley Road - Common Sootywing, checkerspots