Heeere's Lenny.....

[Clay Taylor]

Well, this made my day!   A Leonard's Skipper next to Shagbark Lumber this afternoon (8/24/01), about 20 feet from the spot where I videotaped my first one on 8/28/94 (wow, has it been that long since we started the CBA?).  This is as early as I can remember seeing one, and you can see from the photo that he already has some wear and tear on his wings.  God, I love that bug.

    Also present there and across the street at the Skating Rink were E. Tiger Swallowtail, American Lady, Orange Sulphur, LOTS of Silver-spotted Skippers, many Peck's Skippers, Tawny-edged Skipper, a N. Broken Dash, 7 or 8 Least Skippers,  3 Pearl Crescents, and 4 or 5 Great Spangled Fritillaries.

    The Boardman Road pond has Joe-Pye Weed, but no H. Leonardus in sight - they cut down a lot of trees there this past spring, and are mowing farther from the road now.  I hope it doesn't affect the population there.

    In other notes; from Thursday, 8/23, the huge Buddleias at the Goodwin Elementary School in Old Saybrook were buzzing with 30+ Broad-winged Skippers, lots of Peck's, two Tawny-edged, and two Dun Skippers, along with a few Monarchs, an American Lady, and a very worn E. Tiger Swallowtail.

    The North Cove, Old Saybrook public boat launch has smallish Buddleias this year, and just a few of the usual suspects.   The Fenwick field is getting choked in with sumac and cherry, and the number of liatris plants is way down - nothing unusual there.

    I did stop in the afternoon at the Scott's Farm Stand on Rt 153 in Essex, but the clouds had already moved in and the butterfly activity was slowing down.  I did not see Hank's Checkered White, but there were LOTS of Silver-spotted Skippers (50+, ranging from extremely worn to fresh and bright).  The Zinnia patch is huge, so we should all make that a regular stop as we bird / butterfly the coast this fall.

    I am planning on birding (really!) / fishing tomorrow morning, and then butterflying in the late morning - Bauer Park, Old Saybrook, Scott's, etc.   Call me if you want to meet up anywhere about 9am.

Clay


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