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
1st 2025 outing: Partington Canyon, Big Sur
Postponed due to cold weather forecast
Rain, fog, or extreme cold will postpone this outing. We can expect 5-10 butterfly species in this little canyon, including possible Sonoran Blue. Hopefully large numbers of ladybugs will still be overwintering
2025 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 - on good weather days, butterflies can be active all months of the year in some peninsula-area canyons; species counts vary from just a few in Dec-Jan to 20 or more in May-Jun. Over the years, Hatton canyon has yielded over 40 species of butterflies.
January 2025
February
March
S: date TBD
Partington Canyon - Sonoran Blue, Gray-veined White, up to 10 other species possible
S: date TBD
Partington Canyon - Sonoran Blue, Gray-veined White, up to 10 other species possible
S: date TBD
Partington Canyon - Sonoran Blue, Gray-veined White, up to 10 other species possible
S: date TBD
Garland Ranch - early scouting trip
F: date TBD
King City and Parkfield - possible Edith's Checkerspot, Spring White, etc.
S: date TBD
Piney Creek Road - Last year's spring hot spot had 20 species in March.
April
S: date TBD
Garland Ranch RP - Sonoran Blue, 15+ species
S: date TBD
East Carmel Valley Road - target species: Common Sootywing, Edith's Checkerspot
S: date TBD
Pinnacles National Park - target species: Spring White
May
S: date TBD
South Coast Ridge Road - target species: Muir's Hairstreak
S: date TBD
East Carmel Valley Road - target species: Common Sootywing, Edith's Checkerspot
S: date TBD
Parkfield area - target species: Lindsey's Skipper
Chews Ridge - target species: Sleepy Duskywing
S: date TBD
S: date TBD
Pine Canyon Road - target species: Thicket Hairstreak, Goldhunter's hairstreak
S: date TBD
Cone Peak - target species: Arrowhead Blue, Sleepy Duskywing
Butterfly count at UC Big Creek Reserve
Butterfly count at UC Hastings Reservation
Butterfly count at Monterey
C:date TBD
Butterfly count at Pinnacles National Park
June
S: date TBD
Chews Ridge - three fritillary species, silver-spotted skipper, 30+ species
S: date TBD
East Carmel Valley Road - target species: Great-Basin Wood-Mymph
C:date TBD
C:date TBD
C:date TBD
F: date TBD
Pine Canyon Road - target species: Thicket Hairstreak, Mt. Mahogany Hairstreak
July
F: date TBD
Chews Ridge - target species: Unsilvered Fritillary, Golden Hairstreak
August
F: date TBD
King City along the Salinas River - continued searches for Melissa Blue, a county rarity; multiple trips may be planned
September
F: date TBD
Parkfield area - target species: Great Blue hairstreak