Finzel Swamp

[Rick Borchelt]

I visited Finzel Swamp on Monday looking for the butterfly specialties of the area (Silver-bordered Fritillary, Baltimore and Harris' Checkerspots) but came up empty save for a bit of sunburn.  Part of the issue may be the dwindling nectar resources: Most of the extensive milkweed and dogbane in the back field is gone, suppressed by grasses because there is no management of the field. Odes were a bit more cooperative; highlights were American Emerald and Chalk-fronted Corporal.

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Rick Borchelt
College Park, MD
preferred personal email:  rborchelt |AT| gmail |DOT| com

http://leplog.wordpress.com

[odona...@comcast.net]

Rick,

One of the things I regret was when I was surveying Finzel Swamp for DNA/Nature Conservancy back in 1995-1996 for dragonflies, I only occasionally took notes on the butterflies.  I did record on July 5, 1995, seeing 30+ Baltimore Checkerspots within the 4.5 hours I was there.  Is it possible you were too early for them?  I understand that things have changed a lot since then but thought I would mention it anyway.  A side note is that I also had 2 Compton Tortoise Shells on that day.  Are they still present in Western Maryland?

I am glad the dragonflies provided some entertainment for you at Finzel.  Enjoy the Chalk-fronted Corporal, because I fear we might be losing them.  Fifteen years ago, they were common in the Catoctins in Frederick County, but I have not seen any in the past decade, and I am there on a regular basis.  How the Catoctin population crashed so fast and hard is a total mystery to me.  I hope they will remain strong in Western Maryland. At least the American Emeralds are still around in the fire ponds in the Frederick Watershed area.

Richard

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From: mdlep...@googlegroups.com <mdlep...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Rick Borchelt <rbor...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 11:35 AM
To: <mdlep...@googlegroups.com> <mdlep...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [MDLepsOdes] Finzel Swamp

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[Rick Borchelt]

Comptons haven't been recorded in MD for some time; they were always more common in GRSF (and in the 1980s when I was leading student field trips there were really pretty common along Sideling Hill Creek) but to my knowledge hasn't been seen even here for more than a decade.  My suspicion is this is related to warming climate pushing this mostly Northwoods species farther north.  Butterflying colleagues usually need to head up into PA to get our Compton fix, although they are increasingly difficult to come by even there.  Ward Pound Ridge in NY is the best go-to spot for them closest to us.  

I have seen prodigious numbers of Baltimores at Finzel in the past as well, but the numbers have dwindled significantly over the years and I'm lucky to see a half dozen at best over an afternoon's surveying.  It is very likely early, however, as they were not yet flying in Frederick Co a week ago in their known location.  They are however on the wing in WV and in New England, so go figure.  Another confounding issue I suspect is the suppression of beavers by the TNC to preserve the hydrology for larch; the unfortunate byproduct is loss of extensive beaver meadow habitat that Baltimores need. 

It is also exceptionally dry at Finzel, as dry as I've ever seen it.  

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