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July 29- August 4, 2012
Omaha, Nebraska
Backyard butterfly weekly list. Number indicates the number of days sighted. Names in bold represent new sightings for the year.
Butterflies:
Painted Lady(2)
Little Yellow(1)
Gray Hairstreak(1)
Eastern Tailed-blue(1)
Monarch(1)
Orange Sulphur(1)
Skippers:
Sachem(6)
Common Sootywing(2)
Fiery(1)
This week, the list is once again on the thin side. Adding to the poor butterfly turnout, I apparently forgot to record my sightings last Sunday. When I noticed this, yesterday, I checked my photo history and all I had for Sunday was a couple of poor pictures of a Common Sootywing(Pholisora catullus) The week belonged to the Sachems, with sightings every day(except Sunday). Of course, their advantage is they stay in the yard until dusk and I did not get home until after 7:00PM on Monday through Thursday.
Compared to the same period last year, this year I had six Butterflies and nine Skippers, versus last year when I had eighteen Butterflies, seven Skippers, and two moths. Last year I recorded Eastern Tiger Swallowtails every day of the week. This year, none.
Despite being fairly busy, Saturday was a pretty good day. I recorded my first Little Yellow(Parasita lisa, pictured above-left) for the year and the first ever in my backyard. I also got some good shots of a Gray Hairstreak(Strymon melinus,pictured above the fold) and the year's first good photos of a Fiery Skipper(Hylephila phyleus, pictured below)
So, that's my butterfly list for the week. What are you seeing in your area?