We had a great and productive day at Way Out West. Dr Al Zimmerman, MaryEllen Landen and I conducted an extensive and thorough species count and survey of MOST of our place.
So, first, the ’stats’ of the survey site. We did this at our place, but, here’s the official spot. Total species numbers are at the end of the post.
- Location:
5494 East Edwin Road
Catalina Arizona, 85739
32�30′29.42″N
110�52′35.23″W
3150 Feet elevation
2.87 acre census area/habitat - Conditions:
84° at 9:30 AM (start)
99° at 4 PM (conclusion)
Lunch from 12:30 -2 PM
15% Humidity
Sunny & Clear
With just the three of us, we decided to return to the more extensive survey approach of the initial walk. We started in the ‘main’ butterfly garden and visited a puddle party of Marine Blues.
(Click any of the photos for a larger view)
We spent a bit of time watching and, sure enough, they weren’t all Leptotes marina. A Reakirt’s Blue was one of the many different species visiting the area.
The spot is right next to a small koi pond, so it gets a lot of extra water and is a hub of activity.
As the temperature climbed, more visitors took advantage of the quickly evaporating moisture. A couple of skippers came in for a taste. An Acacia Skipper would ‘get a little’ , then, move off to this perch and sit in the shade.
The Arizona Powdered Skipper* liked the sun!!!!!
We moved off of the puddles and started our circuit. Checkered whites were prevalent, with a lot of fresh individuals frequenting the Golden Crown Beard Verbesina enceloides. They were the third highest in number with 63 (for the day).
Dainty Sulphurs were everywhere in the meadow, all over the Fleabane Daisy Erigerons divergens. Southern Dogface were winging through Along with a number of Cloudless Sulphurs. These guys were a bit ignorant of my presence.
They were busy.
We kept moving through the meadow and, as we approached noon, more retreated into the shadows. The Leda’s Hairstreaks were congregating on the Camphor Weed and Spearmint*.
Temperatures were climbing and our hydration packs were getting empty. I spotted a ’stand’ of larvae and got a quick shot before our lunch break. There were five in a one square foot area. There were several more congregating in different areas, as well as individuals on pipevine plants throughout the grounds This Pipevine Swallowtail caterpiller was moving quickly to the cool lower areas of the grass as soon as the sun hit him.
This Bordered Patch was quite exquisite, even though a bit uncooperative for photography!
After lunch, we continued our walk to the lower area and worked around the ‘mini-bosque’ and the other koi pond. Even with freshly filled, cool hydration packs on our backs, the afternoon was hot. We concluded at 4 PM without completing one full loop of the property.
Predominant movement of ‘butterflies with a purpose’ seemed to be from the SW to the NE (corresponding with the mountain alignment).
Here’s the day’s totals:
Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 38
Queen Danaus gilippus 28
American Snout Libythaena bachmanii 10
Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis 3
Marine Blue Leptotes marina 93
Reakirt’s Blue Hemiargus isola 8
Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus 1
Spring Azure Celastrina argiolus 1
Leda Hairstreak Ministrymon leda 69
Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus 2
Checkered White Pieris protodice 63
Mexican Sulphur Eurema mexicana 1
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 16
Orange/Clouded Sulphur Colias eurytheme (orange) 3
Southern Dogface Sulphur Colias (Zerene) cesonia 19
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 10
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 73
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 2
Desert Hackberry Asterocampa leilia 1
Skippers:
Acacia Cogia hippalus 2
Arizona Powdered Systasea zampa 1
Checkered Pyrgus albescens 5
Desert Checkered Skipper Pyrgus philetas 4
Golden-headed
Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 4
Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 1
“Poorly-seen-ids” 85
“Poorly-seen-sulphurs” 8
*Photo from 5/31
The Harris’s Hawks were entertaining with the continual squawking by the nesting female and the answering calls of her group. Vermilion Flycatchers were courting and the ladderbacks were all over the ‘birdy crack’ (homemade suet mix). The gardens were buzzing with bugs, butterflies and hummingbirds.
All images© CJ Vincent
All photos from the grounds of Way Out West & taken June 1, with noted exception
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