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| List: Carolina-Leps Date: Mon, 25 May 2026 08:39:09 -0400 From: Jason Love (via carolinaleps Mailing List) <carolinaleps...> Subject: Re: Cades Cove (Great Smoky Mountains) Blount County, Tenn. |
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--0000000000005c264c0652a3abc2 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Wow! Great find Heather! The Baltimore Checkerspot had historic status in the park until a few years ago. When I worked in the park, I tried to find it without any success. Great job! Cheers, Jason On Sun, May 24, 2026 at 7:49=E2=80=AFPM Heather Rayburn <carolinaleps@duke.= edu> wrote: > Ben and I booked three nights in Townsend, Tenn., in the Great Smoky > Mountains to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary beginning on May 12. > To prep, we read an article about Smoky Mountain butterflies from the 202= 0 > Winter edition of *American Butterflies* magazine (free access if you=E2= =80=99re > a member via the North American Butterfly Association website > <https://naba.org/>). Our target butterfly was the Baltimore Checkerspot. > Since the article said these beauties were rare six years ago, I tried to > keep my hopes in check. We had perfect weather the whole time. > > > > > > *May 12 (Tuesday): Horse Camp Road, Cherokee County* > > > > We had a brief walk here where we ran into two huge puddle parties > <https://www.flickr.com/photos/190206870@N03/55289389634/in/datetaken/> o= f > Eastern Tiger Swallowtails with some Appalachians sprinkled in. > > > > *May 13 (Wednesday): Cades Cove, Blount County, Tenn.* > > No cars allowed on the Cades Cove Loop on Wednesdays, just hikers and > bicycles, which we much preferred to the next day with cars bumper to > bumper. We hit several different spots, which didn=E2=80=99t include the = Baltimore > Checkerspot area mentioned in the article. However, at one point near the > end of the day, Ben peeled off to explore an alternate spot that had > potential. About five minutes later, he yelled, =E2=80=9CHeather, get ove= r here > quick!=E2=80=9D > > > > Our list for the day: > > > > Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, 32 > > Pipevine Swallowtail, 6 > > Dark Swallowtail sp., 1 > > Clouded Sulphur, 2 > > Orange Sulphur, 1 > > Sulphur sp., 13 > > Azures/Blues, 19 (Probably Summer Azures, but they weren=E2=80=99t stayin= g still > for positive ID) > > Eastern Tailed-Blue, 4 > > Variegated Fritillary, 1 > > Great Spangled Fritillary > <https://www.flickr.com/photos/190206870@N03/55289755800/in/datetaken/>, > 100+ > > Mourning Cloak <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364499553>, 1 > > Question Mark, 1 > > Anglewing sp. 1 > > Red Admiral, 1 > > *BALTIMORE CHECKERSPOT > <https://www.flickr.com/photos/190206870@N03/55289834280/in/datetaken/>*, > 3 (nectaring on Miami Mist) *LIFER!!!* > > Silvery Checkerspot, 6 > > Pearl Crescent, 30+ > > Northern Pearly-eye, 1 > > Appalachian Brown, 1 > > Little Wood Satyr, 7 > > Carolina Satyr, 3 > > Satyr sp., 10 > > Northern Cloudywing, 1 > > Silver-Spotted Skipper, 5 > > Juvenal=E2=80=99s Duskywing, 2 > > Dun Skipper, 2 > > *Tawny-edged Skipper <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364749738>= ,* > 1 > > *Peck=E2=80=99s Skipper <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3648469= 23>,* 1 > > *Northern Broken-dash > <https://www.flickr.com/photos/190206870@N03/55289516793/in/datetaken/>*, > 1 > > Zabulon Skipper, 3 (one was a female) > > Least Skipper, 3 > > > > Other cool sightings that day: Common Watersnakes > <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364745682>; a large bear asleep > in the crook of a large tree; seven other bears; and the prettiest fly > <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364522811> I=E2=80=99ve ever se= en. > > > > > > *May 14 (Thursday): Cades Cove, Blount County, Tenn.* > > > > Cars were bumper to bumper around the Cades Cove loop. Ben and I headed t= o > the Baltimore Checkerspot area mentioned in the *American Butterflies* ar= ticle > (near the Dan Lawson Place) and searched and searched without luck. The > noise/pollution made us wish Cades Cove had five car-free days instead of > two. > > > > We decided to take the car off the main loop and down a gravel road and > parked at a promising field next to tree canopy. This was the right call = as > we had a dirt road in the field to ourselves and a deep, dry streambed to > explore as well. Here, we finally ran into Monarchs. > > > > FIELDS AROUND DAN LAWSON PLACE (12-2:50 pm): > > Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, 6 > > Dark Swallowtail sp., 2 > > Sulphur sp., 1 > > Red-banded Hairstreak, 6 > > Azure/Blue sp., 1 > > Eastern Tailed-Blue, 1 > > Great Spangled Fritillaries, 75+ (all the GSFs of the trip were super > fresh except for one) > > Red-spotted Purple, 1 > > Silvery Checkerspot, 7 > > Pearl Crescent, 20 > > Northern Pearly-eye, 1 > > Little Wood Satyr, 50+ > > Carolina Satyr, 2 > > Satyr sp., 12 > > Juvenal=E2=80=99s Duskywing, 1 > > Dun Skipper, 1 > > Little Glassywing <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364850997>, 1 > > Zabulon Skipper (male), 1 > > Skipper sp., 2 > > > > Bonuses: One Monarch egg and three Tiger moth > <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364519762> caterpillars. > > > > FIELD/CREEKBED OFF HYATT ROAD (2:52-4:30 pm) > > > > Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, 6 > > Orange Sulphur, 1 > > Azure/Blue sp., 4 > > Eastern Tailed-Blue, 1 > > Great Spangled Fritillaries, 60+ > > Monarch, 6 > > Silvery Checkerspot, 7 > > Pearl Crescent, 15 > > Northern Pearly-eye, 1 > > Satyr sp., 1 > > Silver-spotted Skipper, 3 > > Dun Skipper, 1 > > Zabulon Skipper, 5 (3 male; 2 female) > > Least Skipper, 1 > > > > Bonuses: Ebony Jewelwings; Orchard Oriole > <https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364746847>. Once we got out of > the dry creek bed and back on the sunny gravel road in the field, Ben > spotted a mother bear with cubs at a safe distance. When I spotted them a= ll > the bears had turned to leave except for one cub. This one sat up on its > hind legs with some vegetation in its paws and looked at us =E2=80=93 as = three > Great Spangled Fritillaries twirled around it. It was one of the most > sweetest things I=E2=80=99ve ever seen. Unfortunately, no pictures. > > > > We ended the day by going back to the place where we spotted the Baltimor= e > Checkerspots the day before: > > > > *BALTIMORE CHECKERSPOTS, 2* > > > May 15: Overhill Nursery > > We went our of our way and visited Overhill Nursery > <https://www.overhillgardens.com/> in Vonore, TN. It=E2=80=99s way out in= the > middle of nowhere, but I=E2=80=99ve never seen such a diverse selection o= f native > plants in one place. Their Pawpaw trees had Zebra Swallowtail caterpillar= s > on them! > > > Heather Rayburn > > Asheville, NC > --0000000000005c264c0652a3abc2 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">Wow! Great find Heather! The Baltimore Checkerspot had his= toric status in the park until a few years ago. When I worked in the park, = I tried to find it without any success. Great job!<div>Cheers,</div><div>Ja= son</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div di= r=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Sun, May 24, 2026 at 7:49=E2=80=AFPM Heat= her Rayburn <<a href=3D"mailto:<carolinaleps...>">carolinaleps@duke.= edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"marg= in:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1e= x"><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-fa= mily:"Times New Roman",serif">Ben and I booked three nights in To= wnsend, Tenn., in the Great Smoky Mountains to celebrate our 30<sup>th</sup= >=C2=A0wedding anniversary beginning on May 12. To prep, we read an article= about Smoky Mountain butterflies from the 2020 Winter edition of=C2=A0<i>A= merican Butterflies</i>=C2=A0magazine (free access if you=E2=80=99re a memb= er via the=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://naba.org/" originalSrc=3D"https://naba.o= rg/" style=3D"color:rgb(149,79,114)" target=3D"_blank">North American Butte= rfly Association website</a>). Our target butterfly was the Baltimore Check= erspot. Since the article said these beauties were rare six years ago, I tr= ied to keep my hopes in check. We had perfect weather the whole time.<u></u= ><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;fon= t-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p clas= s=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Time= s New Roman",serif"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" sty= le=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",s= erif"><b>May 12 (Tuesday): Horse Camp Road, Cherokee County<u></u><u></u></= b></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-fami= ly:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"M= soNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New = Roman",serif">We had a brief walk here where we ran into=C2=A0<a href= =3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/190206870@N03/55289389634/in/datetaken/" = originalSrc=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/190206870@N03/55289389634/in/d= atetaken/" style=3D"color:rgb(149,79,114)" target=3D"_blank">two huge puddl= e parties</a>=C2=A0of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails with some Appalachians spr= inkled in.=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0i= n;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u>= =C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:mediu= m;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b>May 13 (Wednesday): Cad= es Cove, Blount County, Tenn.<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" s= tyle=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman"= ,serif">No cars allowed on the Cades Cove Loop on Wednesdays, just hikers a= nd bicycles, which we much preferred to the next day with cars bumper to bu= mper. We hit several different spots, which didn=E2=80=99t include the Balt= imore Checkerspot area mentioned in the article. However, at one point near= the end of the day, Ben peeled off to explore an alternate spot that had p= otential. About five minutes later, he yelled, =E2=80=9CHeather, get over h= ere quick!=E2=80=9D<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin= :0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u= >=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medi= um;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Our list for the day:<u><= /u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;f= ont-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p cl= ass=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Ti= mes New Roman",serif">Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, 32<u></u><u></u></p>= <p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:&qu= ot;Times New Roman",serif">Pipevine Swallowtail, 6<u></u><u></u></p><p= class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"= ;Times New Roman",serif">Dark Swallowtail sp., 1<u></u><u></u></p><p c= lass=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"T= imes New Roman",serif">Clouded Sulphur, 2<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D= "MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times Ne= w Roman",serif">Orange Sulphur, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNorm= al" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman&= quot;,serif">Sulphur sp., 13<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style= =3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",ser= if">Azures/Blues, 19 (Probably Summer Azures, but they weren=E2=80=99t stay= ing still for positive ID)=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" st= yle=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",= serif">Eastern Tailed-Blue, 4<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style= =3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",ser= if">Variegated Fritillary, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style= =3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",ser= if"><a href=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/190206870@N03/55289755800/in/d= atetaken/" originalSrc=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/190206870@N03/55289= 755800/in/datetaken/" style=3D"color:rgb(149,79,114)" target=3D"_blank">Gre= at Spangled Fritillary</a>, 100+<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" st= yle=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",= serif"><a href=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364499553" origi= nalSrc=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364499553" style=3D"colo= r:rgb(149,79,114)" target=3D"_blank">Mourning Cloak</a>, 1<u></u><u></u></p= ><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:&q= uot;Times New Roman",serif">Question Mark, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class= =3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times= New Roman",serif">Anglewing sp. 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNor= mal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman= ",serif">Red Admiral, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style= =3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",ser= if"><b><a href=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/190206870@N03/55289834280/i= n/datetaken/" originalSrc=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/190206870@N03/55= 289834280/in/datetaken/" style=3D"color:rgb(149,79,114)" target=3D"_blank">= BALTIMORE CHECKERSPOT</a></b>, 3 (nectaring on Miami Mist)=C2=A0<u>LIFER!!!= <u></u><u></u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:= medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Silvery Checkerspot, = 6<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:med= ium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Pearl Crescent, 30+<u></= u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;fo= nt-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Northern Pearly-eye, 1<u></u><= u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-= family:"Times New Roman",serif">Appalachian Brown, 1<u></u><u></u= ></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-famil= y:"Times New Roman",serif">Little Wood Satyr, 7<u></u><u></u></p>= <p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:&qu= ot;Times New Roman",serif">Carolina Satyr, 3<u></u><u></u></p><p class= =3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times= New Roman",serif">Satyr sp., 10<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNorma= l" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman&q= uot;,serif">Northern Cloudywing, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" = style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman"= ;,serif">Silver-Spotted Skipper, 5=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNo= rmal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roma= n",serif">Juvenal=E2=80=99s Duskywing, 2<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"= MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New= Roman",serif">Dun Skipper, 2<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" = style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman"= ;,serif"><b><a href=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364749738" = originalSrc=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364749738" style=3D= "color:rgb(149,79,114)" target=3D"_blank">Tawny-edged Skipper</a>,</b>=C2= =A01=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font= -size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b><a href=3D"h= ttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364846923" originalSrc=3D"https://w= ww.inaturalist.org/observations/364846923" style=3D"color:rgb(149,79,114)" = target=3D"_blank">Peck=E2=80=99s Skipper</a>,</b>=C2=A01<u></u><u></u></p><= p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:&quo= t;Times New Roman",serif"><b><a href=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/= 190206870@N03/55289516793/in/datetaken/" originalSrc=3D"https://www.flickr.= com/photos/190206870@N03/55289516793/in/datetaken/" style=3D"color:rgb(149,= 79,114)" target=3D"_blank">Northern Broken-dash</a></b>, 1<u></u><u></u></p= ><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:&q= uot;Times New Roman",serif">Zabulon Skipper, 3 (one was a female)<u></= u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;fo= nt-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Least Skipper, 3<u></u><u></u>= </p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family= :"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"Mso= Normal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Ro= man",serif">Other cool sightings that day:=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://www= .inaturalist.org/observations/364745682" originalSrc=3D"https://www.inatura= list.org/observations/364745682" style=3D"color:rgb(149,79,114)" target=3D"= _blank">Common Watersnakes</a>; a large bear asleep in the crook of a large= tree; seven other bears; and the=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://www.inaturalist.o= rg/observations/364522811" originalSrc=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/obser= vations/364522811" style=3D"color:rgb(149,79,114)" target=3D"_blank">pretti= est fly</a>=C2=A0I=E2=80=99ve ever seen.<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNo= rmal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roma= n",serif"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"marg= in:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u><= /u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:me= dium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><b>May 14 (Thursday): C= ades Cove, Blount County, Tenn.<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"= style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman&quo= t;,serif"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0i= n;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Cars were= bumper to bumper around the Cades Cove loop. Ben and I headed to the Balti= more Checkerspot area mentioned in the=C2=A0<i>American Butterflies</i>=C2= =A0article (near the Dan Lawson Place) and searched and searched without lu= ck. The noise/pollution made us wish Cades Cove had five car-free days inst= ead of two.=C2=A0<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0= in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u>= =C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:mediu= m;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We decided to take the car= off the main loop and down a gravel road and parked at a promising field n= ext to tree canopy. This was the right call as we had a dirt road in the fi= eld to ourselves and a deep, dry streambed to explore as well. Here, we fin= ally ran into Monarchs.<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"ma= rgin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u= ></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:= medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">FIELDS AROUND DAN LAW= SON PLACE (12-2:50 pm):<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"ma= rgin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ea= stern Tiger Swallowtail, 6<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D= "margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"= >Dark Swallowtail sp., 2<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"m= argin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">S= ulphur sp., 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;f= ont-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Red-banded H= airstreak, 6<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;fo= nt-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Azure/Blue sp= ., 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:= medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Eastern Tailed-Blue, = 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:med= ium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Great Spangled Fritillar= ies, 75+ (all the GSFs of the trip were super fresh except for one)<u></u><= u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-= family:"Times New Roman",serif">Red-spotted Purple, 1<u></u><u></= u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-fami= ly:"Times New Roman",serif">Silvery Checkerspot, 7<u></u><u></u><= /p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:= "Times New Roman",serif">Pearl Crescent, 20<u></u><u></u></p><p c= lass=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"T= imes New Roman",serif">Northern Pearly-eye, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p clas= s=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Time= s New Roman",serif">Little Wood Satyr, 50+<u></u><u></u></p><p class= =3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times= New Roman",serif">Carolina Satyr, 2<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoN= ormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Rom= an",serif">Satyr sp., 12<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style= =3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",ser= if">Juvenal=E2=80=99s Duskywing, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" = style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman"= ;,serif">Dun Skipper, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"ma= rgin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a= href=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364850997" originalSrc=3D= "https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364850997" style=3D"color:rgb(149= ,79,114)" target=3D"_blank">Little Glassywing</a>, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p cl= ass=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Ti= mes New Roman",serif">Zabulon Skipper (male), 1<u></u><u></u></p><p cl= ass=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Ti= mes New Roman",serif">Skipper sp., 2<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoN= ormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Rom= an",serif"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"mar= gin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Bon= uses: One Monarch egg and three=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org= /observations/364519762" originalSrc=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observa= tions/364519762" style=3D"color:rgb(149,79,114)" target=3D"_blank">Tiger mo= th</a>=C2=A0caterpillars.<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"= margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">= <u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-siz= e:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">FIELD/CREEKBED OFF = HYATT ROAD (2:52-4:30 pm)<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"= margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">= <u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-siz= e:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Eastern Tiger Swall= owtail, 6<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-= size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Orange Sulphur, = 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:med= ium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Azure/Blue sp., 4<u></u>= <u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font= -family:"Times New Roman",serif">Eastern Tailed-Blue, 1<u></u><u>= </u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-fa= mily:"Times New Roman",serif">Great Spangled Fritillaries, 60+<u>= </u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;= font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Monarch, 6<u></u><u></u></p>= <p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:&qu= ot;Times New Roman",serif">Silvery Checkerspot, 7<u></u><u></u></p><p = class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"= Times New Roman",serif">Pearl Crescent, 15<u></u><u></u></p><p class= =3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times= New Roman",serif">Northern Pearly-eye, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D= "MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times Ne= w Roman",serif">Satyr sp., 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" s= tyle=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman"= ,serif">Silver-spotted Skipper, 3<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" s= tyle=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman"= ,serif">Dun Skipper, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"mar= gin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Zab= ulon Skipper, 5 (3 male; 2 female)<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" = style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman"= ;,serif">Least Skipper, 1<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"= margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">= <u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-siz= e:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Bonuses: Ebony Jewe= lwings;=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364746847"= originalSrc=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364746847" style= =3D"color:rgb(149,79,114)" target=3D"_blank">Orchard Oriole</a>. Once we go= t out of the dry creek bed and back on the sunny gravel road in the field, = Ben spotted a mother bear with cubs at a safe distance. When I spotted them= all the bears had turned to leave except for one cub. This one sat up on i= ts hind legs with some vegetation in its paws and looked at us =E2=80=93 as= three Great Spangled Fritillaries twirled around it. It was one of the mos= t sweetest things I=E2=80=99ve ever seen. Unfortunately, no pictures.<u></u= ><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;fon= t-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p clas= s=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Time= s New Roman",serif">We ended the day by going back to the place where = we spotted the Baltimore Checkerspots the day before:<u></u><u></u></p><p c= lass=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"T= imes New Roman",serif"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" = style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman"= ;,serif"><b>BALTIMORE CHECKERSPOTS, 2<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class=3D"MsoN= ormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Rom= an",serif"><b><br></b></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;f= ont-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">May 15: Over= hill Nursery</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium= ;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We went our of our way and = visited=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://www.overhillgardens.com/" originalSrc=3D"ht= tps://www.overhillgardens.com/" target=3D"_blank">Overhill Nursery</a>=C2= =A0in Vonore, TN. It=E2=80=99s way out in the middle of nowhere, but I=E2= =80=99ve never seen such a diverse selection of native plants in one place.= Their Pawpaw trees had Zebra Swallowtail caterpillars on them!</p><p class= =3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-family:"Times= New Roman",serif"><br></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;= font-size:medium;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Heather Ray= burn</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in;font-size:medium;font-fa= mily:"Times New Roman",serif">Asheville, NC</p></div></blockquote= ></div> --0000000000005c264c0652a3abc2-- |
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