Big Sur and Hatton Cyn
3-14-24
First Dave Nelson sent good photos of Lotus Green hairstreak in Big Sur, then various observers found western tiger swallowtail, anise swallowtail, fiery skipper, and common checkered-skipper in Hatton Canyon; our 2024 species list is now at 30 species.
Tassajara Road to (at least) China Camp
6-5-24
several reports of a mass movement of thousands of California tortoiseshells on Tassajara Road from Laurie Benner, Ariel Johnson, Don Roberson, Rita Carratello, and others continue to come in. As of today, they are slowly moving east along the roadway, stopping for nectar and at water sources, as they fuel up for the long flight across the Central Valley to the Sierra. Today we counted movement rates of 40/min. to over 100/min. in the China camp area.
side note: about one mile north of China Camp along Tassajara Road we also counted 50-100 leanira checkerspots nectaring on woolly yerba santa. This species has been difficult to find this year.
Tassajara Road to (at least) China Camp
6-5-24
several reports of a mass movement of thousands of California tortoiseshells on Tassajara Road from Laurie Benner, Ariel Johnson, Don Roberson, Rita Carratello, and others continue to come in. As of today, they are slowly moving east along the roadway, stopping for nectar and at water sources, as they fuel up for the long flight across the Central Valley to the Sierra. Today we counted movement rates of 40/min. to over 100/min. in the China camp area.
side note: about one mile north of China Camp along Tassajara Road we also counted 50-100 leanira checkerspots nectaring on woolly yerba santa. This species has been difficult to find this year.
Carmel River Trail, Dampierre Park
8-29-24
Sightings of Gulf Fritillary have been rare this year, so this report from a residential garden along Dampierre Park in the village, the first in a few years, was welcome. Previous sightings in this area suggest one (or more) colonies using planted passion-vines. Other species from near the river include w. tiger swallowtail, cabbage white, CA dogface, acmon blue, mylitta crescent, CA ringlet, gray buckeye, American lady, CA sister, Lorquin's admiral, mournful duskywing, fiery skipper, and woodland skipper.
Hatton and Soberanes canyons
8-26-24
Stray California Dogface and Coronis Fritillary have arrived on the peninsula in Hatton Canyon, favoring wild radish and bull thistle nectar, respectively. We await more fall movements and hope for a 2nd consecutive year, late season movement of marine blues and painted ladies. Hatton Canyon, with warmer conditions, had 85 total butterflies/15 species, compared to the cooler Soberanes Canyon, with 26 butterflies, 11 species.
King City Melissa Blue search
8-14-24
A group of 6 Monterey butterflyers met in King City for an organized search for Melissa Blue along the Salinas River floodplain near San Lorenzo Park. With only two confirmed sightings in the past 20 years (from King City to San Lucas), we could cover only a very small percentage of potential habitat. We abandoned our efforts after two hours as the heat approached 90 degrees. On their return, the Don, Rita, and Barbara group found an active butterfly garden at the far end of the park, planted and maintained by the city. Here we more than doubled our species list for the morning: w. tiger swallowtail, cabbage white, checkered white, gray hairstreak, acmon blue, gray buckeye, monarch, mournful duskywing, common checkered-skipper, fiery skipper, woodland skipper; the Rick, Dave, and Chris group found five species on the other (south) side of the river. In the afternoon we drove to the Arroyo Seco gorge, now open to day use, for a hopeful sighting of mormon metalmarks on California buckwheat. Prospects dimmed as nearly all buckwheat flowers had been torched by weeks of 100+ degree heat; fortunately one flying adult appeared on nude buckwheat along the edge of the gorge as we approached our cars. Butterfly species added in the afternoon: mormon metalmark, satyr comma, Lorquin's admiral, California sister, California ringlet, upped our day count to 16 species.
Hatton and Soberanes canyons
8-11/12-24
Early August surveys of these coastal canyons found reduced numbers and species compared to late spring counts, as summer fog invades and cools inland areas. In past years, improving fall conditions bring a resurgence of butterfly activity to coastal sites. Follow the monthly surveys of Hatton and Soberanes canyons under "Surveys" above.
Old Stage Road, Salinas
8-9-24
A mid-summer return to this site after many years found the road now abandoned, and slowly becoming a trail worthy of regular butterfly visits. Twelve species on the day is quite good for August,, especially following weeks of intense summer heat: w. tiger swallowtail, cabbage white, gray hairstreak, great copper, mylitta crescent, American lady, gray buckeye, California sister, Lorquin's admiral, California ringlet, common checkered-skipper, woodland skipper
July butterfly counts
July outings were mostly butterfly counts in California, including several in the central Sierra Nevada from Mt Shasta to Yosemite. Results of a few of these counts will be posted under "Counts" in the above menu later in September, when final numbers have been tallied.
Chews Ridge and Tassajara Road
7-3-24
Rick and Chris again, today on Tassajara Road, the last scheduled local outing until August. (Chris will be doing butterfly counts in the Sierra). We wanted 3 species today: Golden Hairstreak, Unsilvered Fritillary, and Mt. Mahogany Hairstreak. Unsilvered fritillaries were nectaring in good numbers on several clumps of western pennyroyal. One golden hairstreak in a canyon oak was nice, but 100+ flying in front of the car along a shaded stretch of Tassajara Road a little after 12 noon was a sight to behold. Apparently this crepuscular species finds daytime shade a suitable substitute for the long shadows of a cool evening. We struck out on the Mt. Mahogany Hairstreak.
Pine Canyon Road
6-26-24
Rick Fournier and Chris Tenney returned to the King City area, where temps continue to approach 100 deg. An early 8 am start in Pine Canyon saved them from the hottest part of the day, but nectar sources had dried up and hilltopping species were reduced mostly to numbers of worn callippe fritillaries. The day's totals: 16 species, 84 butterflies, were much reduced from early May. There were no checkerspots or coppers, and only 7 total hairstreaks.
King City-Hunter Liggett area
6-23-24
Temps reached 100 deg. as Rick Fournier and Chris Tenney scouted scorched slopes of buckwheat in the Williams Hill Rec. area south of King City: Highlights among the 21 species included tailed copper, w. pygmy-blue, Bernardino blue, callippe fritillary, and 5 hairstreak species, though we missed the hoped-for Mt. Mahogany Hairstreak.
Salinas River mouth area
6-19-24
On a sunny but cool, windy day Dave Nelson and Chris Tenney explored a stretch of dunes near the Salinas River mouth for Marina Blue Euphilotes enoptes arenacola and Coastal Green Hairstreak. The blues were abundant but no hairstreaks, though they added sandhill skipper, in addition to anise swallowtail, cabbage white, mylitta crescent, and common buckeye.
Tassajara Road to Chews Ridge and China Camp
6-16-24
with spring approaching summer, butterfly activity has moved upslope as lower elevation sites dry out. Barbara Banfield, Mark Chappell, Bill Hubick, and Rick Fournier joined Chris Tenney on this high elevation outing to follow up on butterfly numbers reported on the recent UC Hastings count. Today we counted 336 total butterflies, 38 species. We had sightings of leanira checkerspot, silver-spotted skipper, six hairstreak species, three duskywing species, and all three fritillary species. The very low numbers of unsilvered fritillary are a continuing concern for this central coast California endemic. We plan a return outing to this area in early July.
Summary of butterfly counts
6-13-24
now that the dust has settled from the 4 annual counts last weekend, we can share some highlights (final results will be posted under the "Counts" menu following a review of data by compilers). The 8 species added to this year's county list include Moss's Elfin, Mt. Mahogany Hairstreak, Dryope hairstreak, W. Pygmy-blue, Dotted-blue, Unsilvered Fritillary, Common Wood-Nymph, and Silver-spotted Skipper. On the Monterey count, the Malpaso team found and photographed W. Tailed-Blue, a new species for that count.
Tassajara Road to (at least) China Camp
6-5-24
several reports of a mass movement of thousands of California tortoiseshells on Tassajara Road from Laurie Benner, Ariel Johnson, Don Roberson, Rita Carratello, and others continue to come in. As of today, they are slowly moving east along the roadway, stopping for nectar and at water sources, as they fuel up for the long flight across the Central Valley to the Sierra. Today we counted movement rates of 40/min. to over 100/min. in the China camp area.
side note: about one mile north of China Camp along Tassajara Road we also counted 50-100 leanira checkerspots nectaring on woolly yerba santa. This species has been difficult to find this year.
Pinnacles butterfly count, west side Pinnacles National Park
6-2-24
Dave Styer and Chris Tenney counted butterflies east of Soledad on the Monterey County side of Pinnacles NP, finding a combined 33 species. Some specialties for the day included tailed copper, leanira checkerspot, mountain mahogany hairstreak*, great blue hairstreak*, and northern white-skipper.
* new 2024 species for Monterey county species list
Carmel River Trail, Garland RP
5-31-24
a late May one-hour survey with Garland Ranch RP volunteers found several recently-emerged oreas and satyr commas near Dampierre field: 66 butterflies, 17 species
Pine Canyon road , King City area
5-29-24
Stanley Dudek, Rick Fournier, Dave Nelson, Irene Rosen and Chris Tenney surveyed the length of Pine Canyon Road east of King City for nearly 4 hours, compiling these numbers: 230 butterflies, 30 species
Included on the outing list are two new species for this year - goldhunter's hairstreak and hedgerow hairstreak. A brief stop at Long Canyon on the way back added 3 species to our day count.
Long Canyon and Reliz Canyon
5-26-24
Rita Carratello and Don Roberson visited these two side canyons of the Arroyo Seco, adding our first Tailed Copper and Great Copper to the 2024 county species list.
Long Canyon
5-25-24
Kyan Russell photographed a Great Basin wood-nymph in Long Canyon, species # 62 of the year for Monterey County
Chews ridge and Tassajara road
5-22-24
Stanley Dudek, Rick Fournier, and Irene Rosen joined Chris Tenney on a late spring survey of the Chews Ridge area. Too early for fritillaries, but they enjoyed a nice assortment of butterflies, including four duskywing species and Columbian skipper at the fire lookout hilltop: 162 butterflies, 28 species
E Carmel Valley road and Reliz Canyon road
5-19-24
Bill Hubick and Mark Kudrav pushed our 2024 county list past 60 species, adding Callippe Fritillary and California Hairstreak. They also photographed a fresh California Tortoiseshell, perhaps a harbinger of a late May-early June mass migration of this species. This event doesn't happen every year, but has been seen along roadways between Tassajara Road and Nacimiento Road. In 2018 we counted nearly 20,000 migrating tortoiseshells along E. Carmel Valley Road.
Southeast county: Parkfield to near Bradley
5-15-24
Rita Carratello, Rick Fournier, Don Roberson, and Chris Tenney drove a circuitous route through southeast county (mostly roadside butterflies due to private property constraints): estimated 134 butterflies, 14 species. Among the species were four new to this year's list - purplish copper, western tailed-blue, Bernardino blue, and northern white-skipper. Other than thistle on Parkfield grade, good nectar was scarce - both buckwheat and yerba santa have just started to bloom. Fortunately a wet stretch of Cross Country Road gave us good looks and photos of several species.
Marina Dunes ands Jacks Peak
5-11-24
Don Roberson and Rita Carratello found and photographed two rare county hairstreaks in the past few days - western pine elfin on Jacks Peak, and coastal green hairstreak at the Marina dunes. If you hope to see either of these species this year, go soon, as they're likely to end their flights within the next few weeks.
Piney Creek area
5-10-24
Piney Creek delivers again as Barbara Banfield, Rick Fournier, Irene Rosen, and Chris Tenney visit first Piney Creek road and then nearby Long Canyon:
21 species, estimated 280 total butterflies
Temperatures approached 90 degrees with light winds as we added coronis fritillary and, surprisingly, Columbian skipper, both new species for 2024. Everyone also got great looks at rural skipper and gorgon copper, now out in good numbers; we also chased down a few worn Edith's checkerspots in upper Long canyon, and Rick believes he saw a leanira checkerspot, though we await final word on that.
Finally, we enjoyed several Rocky Mountain clearwing moths (at right) nectaring on vetch at Piney Creek road (yes, that's a moth).
Long Canyon
5-1-24
Don Roberson photographed the year's first Leanira Checkerspot . . a little early for this species, and rare for this canyon. Given the continued closure of the Arroyo Seco gorge and the only known reliable leanira colony, this may be the best location to see the species this year.
Hatton Canyon
5-1-24
Rick Fournier, Inger Marie Laursen, Francis Toldi joined Chris Tenney on his bi-monthly survey. temps 70-75, light winds: 16 species, 43 total butterflies
5-1-24
Rick Fournier, Inger Marie Laursen, Francis Toldi joined Chris Tenney on his bi-monthly survey. Cool winds didn't deter a nice showing of butterfly species:
22 species, estimated 124 total butterflies
Variable checkerspots are out now in good numbers and the rare two-banded checkered-skipper gave us brief looks. Propertius and mournful duskywings at the first creek crossing just past the barn were a surprise. Sara orangetips and large marbles are still flying, but only one gray-veined white as rthe winter flight of this species seems nearly over.
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Soberanes Canyon
Piney Creek area
4-29-24
Barbara Banfield joined Chris Tenney for yet another visit to this very active butterfly area.:
24 species, estimated 360 total butterflies
slightly cooler today with occasional wind gusts but still many butterflies; we bypassed the ridge and instead walked to the campground and creek for several mudding species, adding two-banded checkered-skipper and gorgon copper to our 2024 list, now at 34 species for this area, 51 species for Monterey County.
two nice hairstreaks:
4-24-24
Blake Matheson (yes, that birder) photographed a rare Thicket hairstreak (photo near right) on 14 March near Jacks Peak, which he reported on iNaturalist; after several searches, Chris Tenney found a Western Pine elfin (photo far right) in the Del Monte Forest this week.
Las Garzas Creek/Terrace Trail
4-22-24
Diana Magor walked this trail for the hoped-for Sonoran blue, but it may have been too late in the day; most interesting is the day-flying Caerulean looper moth (at right) which looks much like one of our blue butterfly species, especially in flight: Sara orangetip, silvery blue, CA buckeye, CA sister, CA ringlet,
Piney Creek area
4-22-24
Another big day in the Piney Creek area - report by Rick Fournier, Bill Hubick, Irene Rosen, and Chris Tenney: 24 species, estimated 251 total butterflies
flights of overwintering adult species like tortoiseshells and CA dogface are now largely finished as we await the expected strong late spring flights; other early-season flyers like echo azure and Sara orangetip are also on the wane, but this week brought on promising good flights of checkerspots and CA sister, Lorquin's admiral, and painted lady.
Partington and JP Burns SP
4-20-24
Dave and Margaret Nelson, Big Sur residents, continue to send updates as road closures persist: w. tiger swallowtail, pale swallowtail, cabbage white, Sara orangetip, echo azure, silvery blue, Bramble green hairstreak, Gabb's checkerspot, satyr comma, painted lady, Lorquin's admiral, CA ringlet, umber skipper
new species this week
4-18-24
Dave and Margaret Nelson: Painted Lady
Chris Tenney, Piney Creek area: Edith's checkerspot
Long Canyon
4-17-24
Long Canyon on E. Carmel Valley road has been a great spring butterfly area for many years - report by Chris Tenney: w. tiger swallowtail, pale swallowtail, Sara orangetip, echo azure, silvery blue, acmon blue, bramble green hairstreak, brown elfin, Gabb's checkerspot, Edith's checkerspot, mylitta crescent, CA tortoiseshell, gray buckeye, CA sister, CA ringlet, propertius duskywing, common sootywing; 244 total butterflies, 17 species
in May 2014 all four checkerspot species flew on the same day in this canyon
Las Garzas Creek/Terrace Trail
4-16-24
this spot now reliable for Sonoran blue, as Rick Fournier, Don Roberson, Irene Rosen, and others observed and photographed several near the wooden steps at mile 0.75: w. tiger swallowtail, Sara orangetip, gray-veined white, silvery blue, Sonoran blue, brown elfin, bramble green hairstreak, echo azure, gray buckeye, CA ringlet
new species this week
4-11-24
Dave Nelson, Big Sur: Variable checkerspot
Margaret Nelson, Del Rey Oaks Gulf Fritillary
Diana Magor, Chris Tenney, Piney Creek area: Pacuvius Duskywing, Northern Cloudywing
Piney Creek area
4-10-24
This active butterfly site continues to deliver - report by Diana Magor and Chris Tenney: w. tiger swallowtail, pale swallowtail, anise swallowtail, Sara orangetip, echo azure, silvery blue, acmon blue, bramble green hairstreak, brown elfin, Gabb's checkerspot, mylitta crescent, CA tortoiseshell, gray buckeye, CA sister, CA ringlet, northern cloudywing, propertius duskywing, pacuvius duskywing, mournful duskywing, sleepy duskywing, common sootywing; 382 total butterflies, 21 species
declines in numbers of tortoiseshells, CA dogface, and echo azures were noted, in tandem with increases in silvery blues, and a continuing strong flight of orangetips and bramble hairstreaks
new species this week
4-1-24
Dave Nelson, Big Sur: Umber Skipper
Jan Austin, Chris Tenney, Hatton Canyon Lorquin's admiral
Chris Tenney, Piney Creek area: Mournful Duskywing, Sleepy Duskywing
Piney Creek area
4-1-24
Yet another visit to this current hotspot; a route change from Piney Creek rd. to a ridge yielded a few new species, all hilltoppers, however we missed several likely species in the campground along the creek: w. tiger swallowtail, pale swallowtail, anise swallowtail, cabbage white, Sara orangetip, CA dogface, echo azure, silvery blue, acmon blue, bramble green hairstreak, brown elfin, Gabb's checkerspot, mylitta crescent, CA tortoiseshell, CA ringlet, propertius duskywing, mournful duskywing, sleepy duskywing; 138 total butterflies, 18 species
Hatton Canyon
3-31-24
Jan Austin and Chris Tenney return to this local spot after 10 days of unfavorable weather: w. tiger swallowtail, pale swallowtail, cabbage white, Sara orangetip, echo azure, satyr comma, mourning cloak, w. coast lady, gray buckeye, Lorquin's admiral, monarch, common checkered-skipper, fiery skipper, umber skipper; 36 total butterflies, 14 species
new species this week
3-21-24
Dave Nelson, Rat Creek: Checkered White
Brian Ahern, Chris Tenney, Piney Creek area: CA sister, common sootywing, Propertius Duskywing, Gabb's checkerspot,
Piney Creek road to Piney Creek campground
3-20-24
A return to this hotspot with Brian Ahern of Saratoga: pale swallowtail, large marble, Sara orangetip, CA dogface, echo azure, silvery blue, acmon blue, bramble green hairstreak, brown elfin, mylitta crescent, satyr comma, CA tortoiseshell, gray buckeye, CA sister, CA ringlet, propertius duskywing, common sootywing; also Gabb's checkerspot in nearby canyon. altogether 319 total butterflies, 19 species
Piney Creek road to Piney Creek campground
3-18-24
Butterflies were abundant on most of this 3-mile walk to Piney Creek camp: w. tiger swallowtail, cabbage white, large marble, Sara orangetip, CA dogface, echo azure, silvery blue, acmon blue, bramble green hairstreak, brown elfin, mylitta crescent, satyr comma, CA tortoiseshell, mourning cloak, gray buckeye, CA ringlet, propertius duskywing, common sootywing; also Gabb's checkerspot in nearby canyon. altogether 272 total butterflies, 19 species
Garzas Creek trail at Garland Ranch RP
3-15-24
Howard Higley, Inger Marie Laursen, and Chris Tenney observed a strong flight of Sonoran blues on the Garzas Creek Trail, about 3/4 mi. from the Garzas Creek road parking area: w. tiger swallowtail, gray-veined white, Sara orangetip, CA dogface, echo azure, Sonoran blue, oreas comma, CA tortoiseshell
Big Sur and Hatton Cyn
3-14-24
First Dave Nelson sent good photos of Lotus Green hairstreak in Big Sur, then various observers found western tiger swallowtail, anise swallowtail, fiery skipper, and common checkered-skipper in Hatton Canyon; our 2024 species list is now at 30 species.
Partington Canyon area
3-8-24
Chris Tenney and Dave Nelson had another nice day with 16 species:
pale swallowtail, gray-veined white, cabbage white, Sara orangetip, CA dogface, echo azure, Sonoran blue, silvery blue, satyr comma, mourning cloak, CA tortoiseshell, American lady, red admiral, gray buckeye, monarch, and CA ringlet
Dave took Chris to a nearby roadside wetspot where we added the two new year species, pale swallowtail and silvery blue
Jacks Peak and Big Sur
3-2-24
Dave Nelson reported first-of-the-year sightings of field crescent and CA ringlet in Big Sur; on the same day Chris Tenney had west coast lady, CA tortoiseshell, red admiral, and echo azure on Jacks Peak while searching unsuccessfully for brown and western pine elfins
Partington Canyon and area
2-24-2024 to 2-28-24
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multiple visits this week by Dave Nelson, Don Roberson, Rita Carratello, and Chris Tenney reported over a dozen species: (the list below includes two species - gray hairstreak and CA dogface - seen by Dave Nelson in a nearby canyon)
gray-veined white, cabbage white, Sara orangetip, orange sulphur, CA dogface, large marble. echo azure, Sonoran blue, brown elfin, gray hairstreak, satyr comma, American lady, common buckeye, Monarch, mourning cloak, CA tortoiseshell
Wow! that's 16 total species, pretty impressive for late February; also good numbers of tortoiseshells, whites, and blues
Soberanes Canyon
2-26-2024
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sunny temps 55-65 finally gave us a good flight of gray-veined whites, but still no orangetips or marbles; also mourning cloak, acmon blue and mylitta crescent today - total 7 species
Hatton Canyon, Carmel
2-26-2024
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8 species today included mourning cloak and both satyr and oreas comma
Hatton Canyon, Carmel
2-21-2024
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cabbage white, gray-veined white, echo azure, west coast lady, and monarch today
PartingtonCanyon
2-12-2024
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Numbers were low - 14 total butterflies - but Dave Nelson and Chris Tenney had 8 species today, despite cool temps, about 55-60, and partial sun: gray-veined white, cabbage white, echo azure, CA tortoiseshell, mourning cloak, American lady, gray buckeye, and monarch
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Soberanes Canyon
2-8-2024
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after a slight break in the rains we walked Soberanes creek. It's still mid-winter, so we were OK with 3 species - echo azure, satyr comma, and west coast lady.
Soberanes Canyon
1-29-2024
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the last day of this late January warm spell greeted us with 6 typical early-season species: satyr comma, red admiral, echo azure, acmon blue, west coast lady, and California tortoiseshell. Hopefully the tortoiseshell is a sign that we may have a mass spring movement this year in May-June.
Partington Canyon
1-28-2024
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no Sonoran blues yet but 5 other species flying: gray-veined white, echo azure, monarch, west coast lady, and American lady.
Soberanes Canyon, lower canyon only
1-26-2024
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today's only butterfly was a nice one - a Sonoran Blue that flew across canyon, denying us a photo. This sighting has inspired me to schedule two outings this weekend, before another cold front arrives next week.
today's only butterfly was a nice one - a Sonoran Blue that flew across canyon, denying us a photo. This sighting has inspired me to schedule two outings this weekend, before another cold front arrives next week.
Hatton Canyon, Carmel
1-25-2024
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only one butterfly today - a red admiral - following over two weeks of cool wet conditions. Today was sunny but temps reached only into the low 60s, with a cool down-canyon breeze
Hatton Canyon, Carmel
1-12-2024
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the first survey of the new year: no butterflies today as temps reached only the mid-50s. lots of sunshine, but a cold down-canyon wind likely chilled any possibility of a comma, red admiral, or lady emerging from its winter hiatus.
Hatton Canyon, Carmel
12-14-2023
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by mid-December the colder nights and shorter days had reduced butterfly numbers to only a few species, all of which typically overwinter as adults - satyr and oreas commas, red admiral, and west coast lady
residential Pacific Grove
11-28-2023
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Monarch lovers growing milkweed on their property might want to check their plants for larvae. Jan Austin of Pacific Grove photographed a female laying eggs on her tropical milkweed, and subsequently found several larvae at another residence.
Hatton Canyon, Carmel
Hatton Canyon update
11-30-2023
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This was an exceptional November for butterfly activity in Hatton Canyon. Walk for an hour nearly anywhere else in the county and you may see a few (maybe 3-5) species, but not the numbers and diversity of butterflies reported here this November.
You will notice that although the staging southbound migrant painted ladies moved on by mid-month (following a cold front), most other species remained into early December, though in dwindling numbers. We will continue to update the Hatton Canyon list into December.
11/3/23 Rat Creek, Big Sur: report from Dave Nelson
In early November Dave Nelson took this definitive photo of a female Marine Blue laying eggs, the first confirmation of breeding for this species in Monterey County.
Later in November Dave photographed an out-of-season Silvery Blue, nectaring on Lotus.
Hatton Canyon, Carmel
four species added today, include CA dogface (left), echo azure (right), field crescent, and oreas comma
11-4-2023
10:45-12:15
We surveyed Hatton Canyon again today: four additional species, for 20 species in two days; also the Painted Lady count doubled to 154, mostly puddling along a half-mile stretch of the canyon.
for a complete list of this day's species, go to the Hatton Canyon link here
Hatton Canyon, Carmel
11-3-2023
11:45-1:05
We surveyed this canyon two weeks ago and expected a decline in species and numbers as winter approaches, but butterflies were everywhere! Painted ladies (mostly V. cardui) were stirring in numbers suggestive of a mass movement south, probably drawn to this canyon by the unusually late creek flow - many were puddling - and nectar. Small numbers of cardui are known to fly south in the fall, but most reports are inland, to the southeast. Other features of the day include a Vanessa "grand slam" and marine blues.
for a complete list of this day's species, go to the Hatton Canyon link here
Magic Carpet, Pacific Grove
the magic carpet is just north of Lover's Pt. and south of Pt. Pinos
11-1-2023
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Yes, the Western Pygmy-blue does wander and numbers tend to increase in the fall, but what a surprise to see them flying on Pacific Grove's famous coastal Magic Carpet. We counted up to ten or so on a 5-minute walk. This ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis) is an invasive species, and belongs to a different plant family than typical pygmy-blue host plants like saltbush and Atriplex. However it may have a similar phytochemistry, and the numbers of blues were at least suggestive.
Marine Blue invasion!
10/16/23 Rat Creek, Big Sur: Marine Blue - Dave Nelson, about two dozen individuals in creekside Acmispon glaber still in bloom; male-female courtship was observed, along with nectaring and chasing
10/6/23 Rat Creek, Big Sur: Marine Blue - Dave Nelson
10/17/23 Soberanes Creek, Garrapata SP: Marine Blue - Chris Tenney, about 6-8 individuals, mostly females, in coastal scrub first mile of canyon trail.
We were first alerted to this invasion event by Dave Nelson of Big Sur (see above). Over the previous 20 years we have had a total of only 5 Monterey County records of Marine Blue, so this is an exciting, late season occurrence. Though not a complete surprise - the Yosemite late July butterfly count reported good numbers of Marine and Reakirt's blues, and Diana Magor of Santa Cruz photographed one in her back yard a few weeks ago. Marine blues are normally rare strays from southern California, where it is abundant. The last similar invasion surge in the central valley was in 2003 (Shapiro and Manolis 2007).
San Lorenzo Park, King City
8-28-2023
10:15-11:55
Notes: walked through the park and along the river's edge where flowers, especially water speedwell, were attracting good numbers of butterflies
Anise sw 2, Western Tiger sw 5, Cabbage wh 200+, Orange su 20, Checkered wh 4, Acmon bl 2, Mylitta cr 1, West Coast la 3, Gray bu 45, Woodland sk 3, Fiery sk 18
Parkfield Grade Road
9-19-2023
10:45-12:30
Notes: flowering rabbitbrush and nude buckwheat attracted many species, but Calif. buckwheat was mostly dried out. All stops were along the gravel road, which had wet seeps on the right side; best was grassy spot near the summit, with several great blue hairstreaks
checkered wh 5, Orange su 1, gray hairstreak 3, great blue ha 7, Acmon bl 2, mormon metalmark 5, painted la 3, Gray bu 6, Lorquin's admiral 1, Calif. sister 2, Calif. ringlet 5, Woodland sk 3,
Vineyard Cyn. Rd. west of Parkfield
9-19-2023
1:05-2:00
Notes: similar habitat to the previous, but more accessible. Walked about one mile of the dry creek bed, with flowering rabbitbrush and buckwheat flanked by occasional oaks. Metalmarks were plentiful.
checkered wh 10, gray hairstreak 5, Acmon bl 20, mormon metalmark 200+, painted la 3, Gray bu 8, Calif. sister 1, N. white skipper 3