Aug 31st - The First Quarter Is Over.

Well folks that was brutal!  As I've stated in the past global warming really seems to be taking a toll on hawk watching at Rosetta.  BigFrank and I used to always shoot for 100 birds of prey for the month of August and we'd usually hit that, sometimes we'd get many many more.  In the last five years we haven't even come close to the 100 mark, the total count of migrating birds of prey for August 2019 is 4 -- 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks and 2 Osprey.  Good grief!

The last 10 Augusts...

2010 - 181 raptors
2011 - 107
2012 - 245
2013 - 116
2014 - 297
2015 - 75
2016 - 38
2017 - 73
2018 - 47
2019 - 4

On a happier note the month of August has been fantastic for butterflies and moths.  Twenty-five species of butterfly were identified including a return visit from last year's star, the Milbert's Tortoiseshell.  Monarch migration finally picked up in the later half of the month and Terry, Betty, Hugh and others have been busy with tagging.  In just two weeks they've managed to capture, tag and release 1000 of them!  As for moths, not a lot of variety but a few real beauties have shown up including many visits by Hummingbird Clearwing Moths, a return of the 2017 star, the Fadus Sphinx Moth, and a caterpillar of the Snowberry Clearwing Moth.

Many colourful photos to look at...

 Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Allison)

 Fiery Skipper (Walter)

Red-spotted Purple (Walter)

Peck's Skipper (Walter)

Question Mark (Walter)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Walter)

Red Admiral (Walter)

a pair of worn Silver-spotted Skippers (Walter)

Black Swallowtail (Walter)

Viceroy (Walter)

Eastern Comma (Walter)

Painted Lady (Walter)

Monarch (Walter)

American Lady (Walter)

a damaged White Admiral (Walter)

Eastern Giant Swallowtail (Walter)

Great Spangled Fritillary (Walter)

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Walter)

 Snowberry Clearwing Moth caterpillar (Walter)

See you at Rosetta,
Walter