This year brought unusual swings in temperature. The first 2 weeks were our coldest days in a row and then the 3rd was usually warm with a week in the 60s and 70s. I'm not sure if that I why I saw these butterflies so early or just that I was outside enjoying the weather. I hope to keep a list of when I see various butterflies in the area to see if there is a trend for when they first arrive during the year.
My first butterfly was actually the Cabbage White followed closely by the Gulf Fritillary. I also saw a Goatweed Leafwing at the Heard, but did not get a picture of my own. (I have linked to a picture I took in March)
Editor Note: I wrote this in January, but didn't see I had to Publish it so now doing so in May.
Since I'm publishing this late, I'm adding additional sightings:
February added the Question Mark, the Common Checkered Skipper
March added the Orange Sulphur, Pearl Crescent, Tiger Swallowtail, Red Admiral, American Lady
April Added the Giant Swallowtail, Eastern Black Swallowtail, Gray Hairstreak, Pipevine Swallowtail, Eastern tailed blue, checkered white, fiery skipper, Monarch
Also note that my sighting of the Gulf Fritillary was not normal and I suspect it was an overwintered Chrysalis that came out to early. We have had freezes since then and it would not have been able to survive. As of May 30, I'm still waiting to see my second one.
Cabbage White Butterfly - my first butterfly of the year. Sitting on prairie verbena although not in bloom yet. Temps have been unusually warm the past few days.
Gulf Fritillary Butterfly in backyard on Zinnia (dead). There is passion vine in the area so suspect these are early ones that eclosed due to the warm weather we have been having. Multiple days in the 60's/70s.
Question Mark flying on top of the Hoot Owl Trail at the Heard. It was a bright sunny day around 70. It was flying and basking on the Cedar Junipers. I also so another one but did not get a photograph.
I originally thought this was a question mark but there is not the normal mark that identifies it. I've tried comparing the wing shape and with the bird bite it is challenging. What do others thnk?
Large Butterfly flying over the creek. Not a good photo but you can see it is yellow with tiger stripes.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
I asked a lepidopterist friend of mine in the area and he says white female orange sulphur
Not the best picture.
American Lady
On Prairie Verbena
pipevine swallowtail
White rock Hilltops. All I had was my cell phone so was hard to get a really close picture. I can't see the tail but don't see any other choices that look better.
Checkered White or Cabbage white? Not 100% sure on this one.
I think this is a Fiery skipper, but didn't see with wings closed.
Flying and would not stop so picture in flight
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