Miramchia area

[ESullivan]

Elfin's starting to slow, but still picking up Brown and Eastern Pine. Brown's are still in pretty good numbers on bogs.   Jutta arctic's are out in full force - good time to be checking bogs.  Checked the location (June 9th) I found Bog Fritillaries last year, no luck.  I knew I was a little early, but figured I would check it for elfin's - found Brown's and Jutta's.  Haven't seen any skippers yet.

Good luck.

[John Klymko]

On June 8 Roy LaPointe got Early Hairstreak near Edmundston. Check out the blog
post for details: http://maritimesbutterflyatlas.wordpress.com/

Cheers,
John

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[jim.e...@bellaliant.net]

on Tuesday I found Meadow Fritillary at three sites near Upper Blackville , Schinnickburn and Bartholomew

[ESullivan]

John,

I was actually going to a beech site looking for early hairstreak when I stopped at the Bog Fritillary site. No luck.  

Jim - I've never seen a Meadow Fritillary. I didn't know they were in the Blackville area.  I'll have to have a closer look.

[jim.e...@bellaliant.net]

The best place to see meadow Fritillary is along the road that runs along the Rriver on the south side of the bridge. check the fields especially near the big butternut tree about 200 M in . Also watch for Western Tailid Blue here.

[jim.e...@bellaliant.net]

The bridge on the cain's River Road !

[John Klymko]

Hey Jim and anyone else who might know,

Any suggestions for Meadow Fritillary sites north of Fredericton along Rte 8?
I'm going to be driving the stretch along the Nashwaack that tomorrow and would
like to have a look at one.

Cheers,
John

Quoting "jim.e...@bellaliant.net" <jim.e...@bellaliant.net>:

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> on Tuesday I found Meadow Fritillary at three sites near Upper Blackville
> , Schinnickburn and Bartholomew
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[jim.e...@bellaliant.net]

I have seen them on the South Portage Rd and right in Boisetown by the old mill . Also watch for Western Tailed Blue at Bloomfield Ridge right along the river ifyou get the chance . This is the furthest south I have seen it,

[Phil Schappert]

This list has been quiet of late...maybe everyone's out in the field?!?

Derek Bridgehouse and I took advantage of the day to do the "Debert
loop" (East Folly Mtn. Rd. and Upper Debert River Rd., square
20MR63). Our last stop of the day was at the bridge in Debert at
Upper Debert River Rd. where we were surprised (but real happy!) to
find two Northern Cloudywings (Thorybes pylades). Checking the online
map this record fills in a gap between the NB and the NS squares for
this species. Photos will follow in a couple of days (thankfully
there have been just enough rainy days to give me photo proofing time
and keep the records spreadsheet up to date).

Surprised to note that there are some curious omissions to records
for this square. For example, Canadian Tiger Swallowtails, Papilio
canadensis, are common (so common that I photographed a puddle of 19
of them on June 17th). Other missing species that I have found in
that square this year include Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus),
Hobomok Skipper (Poanes hobomok), White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis),
Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) and Harris's Checkerspot
(Chlosyne harrisii). Derek and I both documented/saw the latter two
species there today and I have photos of the first three from trips
in June.

Unfortunately, no hairstreaks but it was still a great day in the field...

Phil

--

Phil Schappert, PhD

27 Clovis Ave.
Halifax, NS, B3P 1J3
902-460-8343 (cell)

philschappert.com
imaginaturestudio.ca
philschappert.ca

"Just let imagination lead, reality will follow through..."
(Michael Hedges)

[jim.edsall]

Maybe a week or two early for hairstreaks, none in NB yet either. Good to get the common species for that square, i have only  been in it in late summer. And congratulations on the Cloudywings, interesting that they haven't been found in southeastern Nb..jim

Jim Edsall
Check out my new website at http://jimedsall.com

[D Doucet]

With regards to Hairstreaks, Ken McIntosh did report one from the SW Miramichi last week on Birding NB:
http://birdingnewbrunswick.ca/group/bnbbutterflygroup/forum/topics/hairstreak-in-blackville

[Phil Schappert]

At 7:21 PM -0300 7/13/14, jim.edsall wrote:
>Maybe a week or two early for hairstreaks, none in NB yet either.
>Good to get the common species for that square, i have only been in
>it in late summer. And congratulations on the Cloudywings,
>interesting that they haven't been found in southeastern Nb..jim

I can't claim prescience, Jim, as my motives for going up in June,
and even today, was to photo the Eastern Red Damsels (but I keep my
eyes open!). I've got good shots of the males but still need a decent
shot of females (and would love a wheel pair).

FYI, the cloudywings were somewhat worn (some scale loss but wings
entire) and very worn (wing edges ragged, advanced scale loss). I'm
very familiar with this species from Ontario and Texas and I'd guess
at least one and two weeks old respectively.

[Phil Schappert]

Here's a photo of the better (less worn) of the two Northern
Cloudywings photographed/vouchered in Debert, NS on Sunday, July
13th...

Interestingly, as Derek pointed out to me, this is the first record
from Colchester county during the atlas period although, as Peter
Payzant points out on the Butterflies of Nova Scotia site (see
http://novascotiabutterflies.ca/ss.cgi?s=nocl), there are three
records of this species in Ferguson, including both Pictou and
Colchester counties. Derek also points out that this is apparently
the latest date record for this species from Nova Scotia.

[Derek Bridgehouse]

Hi Phil - interestingly the records from Ferguson are: Three Brooks, Pictou , (2) July 2 1944, and July 12,1942 and the record from Great Village ,Colchester Co. has no date

Sent from my iPhone
Derek Bridgehouse
85 Prince Albert Rd.
Dartmouth,N.S.
B2Y 1M1

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> <Thorybes pylades (Northern cloudywing) uns P1180772.jpg>

[Jim Edsall]

excellent find

Jim Edsall
Dartmouth, N.S.
check out my website at
http://jimedsall.com/home.html

[Phil Schappert]

Hi all,

More good news to report! Derek Bridgehouse and I tripped up to
Wallace Bay today with the object (for me) to get photos of Bronze
Coppers. At the Fountain Road bridge crossing the Wallace River
(between highways 307 and 368, square 20MR56) we found a female
Acadian Hairstreak nectaring at some thistle. Vouchered by Derek,
photo to follow later in the week. This is, I believe, the first
Acadian HS for Nova Scotia during the atlas period (and the first
that Derek had seen since 2007).

But the fun's not over yet...

At the Aboiteau Rd. causeway across the Wallace Bay refuge (square
20MR57) I found and photographed a female Bronze Copper and at the
north end of the causeway we found abundant Salt Marsh Coppers. Along
the N. Wallace Rd, heading east we stopped at every stand of thistles
we could find. At one stop I counted 27 mixed Great-Spangled and
Atlantis Fritillaries. At the wet meadow crossing we again
encountered good numbers (more than 2 dozen) of Salt Marsh Coppers.

Finally, further down the N. Wallace Rd. towards Ferry Rd. (and the
bridge crossing to Wallace Bridge, now in square 20MR67) we found the
largest stand of thistle we had seen. At this stand we found more a
few more Salt Marsh Coppers, a male Bronze Copper and an astounding
six (6, count 'em, 6) Acadian Hairstreaks. Derek vouchered two (a
male and a female, as well as the male Bronze Copper) and I got
photos of 5 different individuals (photos to follow later in the
week).

So, an astounding 7 Acadian Hairstreaks (in two different squares), 2
Bronze Coppers (also in two different squares) AND oodles (I believe
that's the scientific term) Salt Marsh Coppers (in two different
squares). Needless to say, a GREAT day in the field...!!!

Looking forward to the next few sunny days...

[Phil Schappert]

First, a correction, there were 5 (not 6) S. acadica at our final
stop yesterday (20MR67)...I thought I had photos of 5 (I didn't get
photos of one of the vouchers Derek took) but it turns out that one
was the reverse side of another. So, I only got photos of 4 of the 5
individuals at that site.

Second, some photos...

The first (photo 475) is the S. acadica found in 20MR56.

The next are three of the four S. acadica photographed in 20MR67. The
first (photo 625) is a female (and the only individual) found feeding
at white sweet clover rather than the thistle. The second (photo 649)
is a female with a piece missing from the left HW revealing the
orange spotting on the ups of the right HW (this is the individual I
had "counted" twice). The last (photo 658) is a male with missing
tails.

[John Klymko]

Great find Phil and Derek! Those are indeed the first Acadian Hairstreak
records from NS for the Atlas, and only the 4rth and 5th squares for the
entire Maritimes during the Atlas period.

[Dwayne Sabine]

Nice find Phil and Derek, and nice photos. Hearing your reports, as well as reports from Scott Makepeace finding lots of Acadian Hairstreaks over the weekend, whetted my appetite to find one. Today Scott and I visited an old field with patches of young willows in Fredericton over the lunch hour. Sure enough, not 10 steps from the car i found one, the first I have ever seen. Hoping to find more later this week. Also present at this site were good numbers of Banded Hairstreaks, giving me my first ever 'two Hairstreak species day'.

Dwayne

On Monday, July 21, 2014, Phil Schappert <phi...@eastlink.ca> wrote:
> First, a correction, there were 5 (not 6) S. acadica at our final stop yesterday (20MR67)...I thought I had photos of 5 (I didn't get photos of one of the vouchers Derek took) but it turns out that one was the reverse side of another. So, I only got photos of 4 of the 5 individuals at that site.
>
> Second, some photos...
>
> The first (photo 475) is the S. acadica found in 20MR56.
>
> The next are three of the four S. acadica photographed in 20MR67. The first (photo 625) is a female (and the only individual) found feeding at white sweet clover rather than the thistle. The second (photo 649) is a female with a piece missing from the left HW revealing the orange spotting on the ups of the right HW (this is the individual I had "counted" twice). The last (photo 658) is a male with missing tails.
>

[Phil Schappert]

I found another Acadian Hairstreak today, in "my" wet meadow off the
East Folly Mountain Rd. north of Debert (square 20MR63). I've been
predicting (to anyone who would listen!) that I would find one in
that particular meadow...willows are plentiful and the habitat
appeared perfect.

I also had a memorable encounter with a fresh male Aphrodite
Fritillary with a shoe fetish in the back of that same meadow...I had
to keep moving my foot to coax him to pose somewhere besides on the
toe of my shoe!

Despite those two finds, I had no luck finding either American Copper
or Branded Skipper...obviously it was still a week or two early for
those two species (but that's ok, I don't mind going back!).

Phil

--

Phil Schappert, PhD

27 Clovis Ave.
Halifax, NS, B3P 1J3
902-460-8343 (cell)

philschappert.ca
imaginaturestudio.ca
imaginaturestudio.blogspot.ca
philschappert.com

[Phil Schappert]

The weather in Nova Scotia, which has been dismal for the past eleven
days, finally turned and today (Aug. 12th) was sunny. Yesterday was
*supposed* to be sunny but trust me when I say that the weather
forecasters were WAY off on that one!

I took the opportunity to revisit the area north of Debert (square
20MR63) and found six to eight Acadian Hairstreaks today in "my" wet
meadow off the East Folly Mountain Rd. All of the individuals seen
today were worn (as opposed to the fresh individual first found there
on Aug. 1st) and I have photos of at least 5 recognizably different
individuals plus a few photos of two on the same Eupatorium (see
photo).

There were a number of highlights today although L. phlaeas (Am.
copper) were conspicuously absent (as were the C. comyntas (eastern
tailed blues) that I first found there last year). Branded skippers
were out though not as common as I've seen them in that area in the
past two years. All three species of greater fritillaries were still
on the wing and I saw three different individuals of B. selene
(silver-bordered fritillary). Wood nymphs were very common. Pierids
were scarce.

At the bridge on East Folly Mtn. Rd. (just past the intersection with
Upper Debert River Rd.) I was lucky to find a fresh gray comma that
cooperated and, after 5 minutes of chasing it, landed right at my
feet giving me great shots of both dorsal and ventral sides from
about as close as I could focus. I'll post the photos on my blog. At
one point it stopped at some fairly fresh dung and posed as well (see
photo).

Non-butterfly highlights for me included a smooth greensnake
(Opheodryas vernalis) that posed for pictures, a beautiful
monster-sized tachinid fly that I've ID'd as Belovsia borealis, and
the first banded argiope (A. trifasciata) that I've seen in Nova
Scotia. Jim Edsall had mentioned that he had found turtlehead at
"his" wet meadow across from the blueberry field and I found it there
today practically buried in a shrub, as well as two other clumps of
plants in bloom down the road toward the river crossing. The largest
clump had some obvious leaf damage but I couldn't find any Baltimore
caterpillars. It may be late to find the caterpillars (I did check
some nearby Plantago for them) and no adults were seen there in my
multiple visits in both June and July...today was my sixth trip to
the area this year.

Tomorrow is also *supposed* to be nice so I'll hit my Elbow Lake
square...keeping my fingers crossed (and the horseshoe firmly planted
up my...)

[jim.e...@bellaliant.net]

Actually it is the perfect time to find Baltimore larvae. Because turtlehead is in bloom it is easier to spot as you whiz by in the car. The tiny larvae are feeding in webs on the very top of the plants making them very obvious. I found several hundred today. The trick in NS is finding the turtlehead...jim (had Hoary Comma today near Wayerton, NB)

[Phil Schappert]

I was aware that they were batch layers but not that they fed in a
web. But no webs and no frass so I have no idea what might have been
feeding on the leaves...

I looked yesterday to try to find caterpillars of Harris's
checkerspot (I photographed a female laying at Pockwock in early
July) but was unable to relocate the plant. Do they also form a web?
Maybe I'll try again on the weekend.

[jim.e...@bellaliant.net]

I don't believe Harris' s is a colonial feeder, I think they lay eggs singly, unlike Baltimore which lays en masse..jim

[Phil Schappert]

>I don't believe Harris' s is a colonial feeder, I think they lay
>eggs singly, unlike Baltimore which lays en masse..jim

Nope. Chlosyne lays in batches (like Phyciodes)...I just didn't know
about a possible feeding web.

[jim.e...@bellaliant.net]

Phil, some quick research reveals harrisi feeds in a web just like baltimore, should be fairly easy to spot at the top of asters..jim

[Phil Schappert]

Yesterday, despite the dismal cloudy weather, I hiked the length of
the McIntosh Run and Roaches Pond here in Spryfield (square 20MQ53),
about 8km round trip. I found a number of unusual flies and more
ichneumonid wasps than I usually see (if I can ID half of them I'll
be happy...and proud) but butterflies were pretty scarce until I was
just about back to the car. By this time I was hiking rather than my
usual saunter from flower to flower but I stopped dead in my tracks
when I saw a Lycaenid silhouette on a Queen Ann's Lace.

It was a late (very!) season, well worn but still recognizable,
Banded Hairstreak. I had found one in mid-August before, August 18,
2008 (pre-Atlas), in Kentville but August 21st is about 2 weeks later
than any other Atlas record. And new to the square, as well, not to
mention only the 5th square for the entire area. It's intriguing that
all 5 squares are in populated areas (2 near Fredericton, 1 at
Kentville and now 2 near Halifax)...I suspect that they're far more
widely distributed than that BUT are encountered so infrequently that
only areas that are frequently surveyed are yielding records.