Goss Farm Butterflies (PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL, OCOLA Skipper, Zabulon Skipper, Monarchs)

[Steve Mirick]

Jane and I walked around Odiorne Point State Park for 2.5 hours. Sadly,
the birds AND the butterflies were very disappointing.  VERY few
butterflies.  Just a few Monarchs and Cabbage Whites.  On the way home
we stopped at Goss Farm in Rye to do a quick check of the awesome Asters
that are in bloom right now.  We met up with Holly Bauer there and were
able to find a couple of real cool species!  We didn't do a careful
count, but we had approximately:

Monarch - 16 including a dizzying flurry of 12 in the garden at the
zinnias.  In recent days there have been a decent migration including
174 on Saturday.  Almost all migrating south along Rt. 1A in Hampton and
North Hampton in about 2 hours.  The migration stopped when the wind
shifted into the east.

PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL - 1.  Spectacular!  I wasn't expecting this
species, but when we caught a glimpse of it in the garden and it flew
out, we ended up chasing it all over the farm.  Fortunately, it went
back to the garden where it settle in.  It favored the zinnias and
Mexican sunflower and was very aggressive as it chased the Monarchs
continuously!  This is only my 2nd ever and my first for NH!  I wasn't
totally caught off guard as Jim Sparrell had one at his yard a couple of
weeks ago in Portsmouth.  And looking in iNaturalist, I see that it is
one of SIX REPORTED THIS MONTH IN NH! Clearly an "invasion" year for
this southern species in the State. Prior to this year, there were only
7 records for the State in iNaturalist.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/317619808

OCOLA SKIPPER - 1.  Sadly, the views were brief as it just disappeared
just after I spotted it!  Fortunately, I got a nice photo.  This species
has been scarce this fall and this is my first of the year. 
Interestingly, Holly Bauer photographed one 2 days ago in Concord!  A
second record for Concord.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/317619813

Zabulon Skipper - 1 female.  Each day is a new record late date for NH. 
We FAILED to find any at Odiorne Point SP so we were excited to see this
worn female at Goss Farm.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/317619820

Peck's Skipper - 1.  Getting late.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/317619821

American Lady - 1.  (Without the classic white spot in the wing)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/317619816

Mourning Cloak - 1

Clouded Sulphur - 1

Cabbage White - A few.

Steve & Jane Mirick & Holly Bauer
Bradford, MA & Hampton, NH