Coastal VA Leps

[Burnetted at aol.com]

Hi Leps-Listers,

I led a group of 14 birders from our local bird club to the Delmarva Peninsula
over the Thanksgiving holiday where I also recorded our butterfly sightings.
We identified four species of butterflies during the four day trip from 26
Nov. through 29 Nov.  None were netted.

Cloudless Sulphurs (Phoebis sennae) were still flying in moderate numbers.  At
the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula at Eastern Shore of Virginia
National Wildlife Refuge and nearby Kiptopeke State Park we saw three
individuals on Thanksgiving day, 11/26/98, despite the very windy and chilly
conditions.  On Saturday, 11/28/98, I counted 21 Cloudless Sulphurs from the
car in an hour and a half in Chincoteague NWR on the 7.5 mile maintenance
road.  There did not seem to be any pattern in the direction of their flight.
One or two others were reported by participants during the four days of
birding.

I saw three Clouded/Orange Sulphurs (Colias sp.).  Two did not show any orange
while in flight, but were not the bright yellow of summer Clouded Sulphurs.
One was a white form female that settled down long enough to allow a good
look.  If I had to guess, I would say all three were Orange Sulphurs (Colias
eurytheme).  Two other similar sulphurs were reported by participants who gave
no details.

A Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) was spotted by a participant on 11/28 in
Chincoteague NWR.  Two Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) were reported, one near
Eastern Shore NWR on 11/26, and the second on 11/27, site unknown.

I also saw three dragonflies still hanging on at Chincoteague NWR, all
probably male Green Darners (Anax junius).

By the way, birds were only moderately cooperative.  The long dry spell has
really reduced habitat for the water birds.  We finished with a group list of
105 species.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Cheers,

Dennis Burnette
Greensboro, NC
burnetted at aol.com