More Giants

[Jamie Meyers]

Just a note, I went back for more Giants today with my friend Jay Kaplan.  We saw several at the Hollenbeck location noted below.  The DeGennaros mentioned they had seen some at the Miles Sanctuary location noted in a previous post (which is off of CT 126, by the way) but by the time we got there it was a bit cloudy and not as active.  

We did, however, get another one on Lower Road in North Canaan.  This is the road off US 7 that goes to the Beckley Furnace museum and there is a winery on it as well.  We had one crossing the road about 1/2 west of the Furnace museum.  It landed in a hedgerow about 75 yards off the road in a field and few vigorously on thistles, allowing excellent views.

The weather being grayer than yesterday, not nearly as much butterfly activity, just glad we were able to see a couple today.

Jamie Meyers
Canton, CT

----- Original Message -----
From: Jamie Meyers <ctredbird2 at comcast.net>
To: ctleps-l at lists.yale.edu
Sent: Sat, 06 Aug 2011 01:49:17 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Canaan Giant Swallowtails

I posted this on CT Birds by mistake earlier ... apologies to you birders who are seeing this for a second time!
================================
Add me to the list of happy customers who've seen Giant Swallowtail this
 year.  I took half the day off from work at the risking of annoying my 
boss.  He didn't mind, but even if he did, I'd just have to say -- WORTH
 IT!  What a cool bug.

I saw at least three of them.  The first 
was crossing US 7 in the Hollenbeck Preserve area just north of the 
Citgo station at the intersection of 7 and 126.  The next was a better 
look, off nearly Peale Street, in the Hollenneck Preserve.   There is a 
day care center and across the street is a big field with lots of nectar
 sources.  At least one was working the Joe Pye Weed pretty regularly. 
 Other swallowtail species were also present, making for interesting 
comparisons.

The third was puddling in a small muddy pulloff next
 to a barn off Sand Road, no more than 1/2 mile north of the train 
tracks and perhaps a mile or so south of the quarry.  Many butterflies 
were puddling here and this individual allowed close approach and 
spectacular photo ops.

I have that I saw this species in FL in 
2006 but I thought it was a lifer at the time I was looking at them 
today.  No matter, it was a great way to spend the afternoon and a solid
 addition to my CT list!

Jamie Meyers
Canton, CT
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