I decided to make a day trip to the Victoria Springs area in Custer county to try to knock off two or three species – Acadian Hairstreaks, Silver Bordered Fritillaries and Eyed Browns and scratch my wetlands itch. So after getting a bit of a late start I arrived at the State Recreation Area aboutContinue reading “Victoria Springs”
Monthly Archives: June 2020
Mile Marker 1- Worth the Wait
On the final day of our three day road trip we decided to revisit an area where the weather had shut us down back in May. So we went west on I-80 to mile marker 1 (one mile from Wyoming) and took the exit and started south. The target destination was a small rock formationContinue reading “Mile Marker 1- Worth the Wait”
Soldier Creek, Gilbert-Baker, Sowbelly Canyon
On day two of our three day western Nebraska field trip Jen and I started out by doing some exploring since the morning skies were cloudy and we had time to be tourists. Neither of us had ever been to Soldier Creek Wilderness (National Forest Service) adjacent to Fort Robinson State Park so we tookContinue reading “Soldier Creek, Gilbert-Baker, Sowbelly Canyon”
Wildcat Hills
Jen and I made our second trip to the panhandle Sunday through Tuesday. Sunday we met Jon Nikkila and his son Bennett at Wildcat Hills SRA about 9:30 am MDT. After some scouting we settled on an area with an abundance of milkweeds and an occasional thistle in bloom. Right off the bat we nettedContinue reading “Wildcat Hills”
Fontenelle Forest, Kinter’s Ford, Prairie Knoll, Four Mile Creek and a Free Truck Wash
Fontenelle Forest – Seeing on “Nebraska and Great Plains Butterflies and Moths” that Hackberry Emperors were being found at Fontenelle Forest and needing them for my Big Year list Thursday morning I headed east for a day of adventures. As always the weather forecast was a factor with late day/evening storms being forecast for southeastContinue reading “Fontenelle Forest, Kinter’s Ford, Prairie Knoll, Four Mile Creek and a Free Truck Wash”
It’s Hairstreak Season
Mid June to mid July is Hairstreak season. A single generation of five hairstreaks (genus Satyrium) found in the state fly only in that time period. They get the name hairstreak from the threadlike extensions on the bottom of their hindwing. It is thought that the orange spot and hairstreak on the hindwings are meantContinue reading “It’s Hairstreak Season”
The Nebraska Natural Heritage Program and the Golden Girls
While there are no butterflies in Nebraska that are on US Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered or Threatened Species list there are quite a number of species from the state whose future is of concern, either regionally or nationally. These species are tracked by a cooperative nationwide Natural Heritage Program. Dr. Rachel Simpson (Nebraska Program DataContinue reading “The Nebraska Natural Heritage Program and the Golden Girls”
Crescent Lake/Ash Hollow Trip – 18 species, 6 new
Jen and I decided to visit the Crescent Lake area north of Oshkosh in hopes of crossing Lupine Blues, Giant Yucca and Uncas Skippers off my big year list. To cut two hours off the three and one half hour trip we traveled as far as Ogallala the night before. That also enabled us toContinue reading “Crescent Lake/Ash Hollow Trip – 18 species, 6 new”
Celebrate Nebraska Pollinator Week
Nebraska Pollinator Week is June 22-28. To recognize pollinators importance to the world as we know it a number of fun activities and training opportunities have been scheduled during the month of June. Check them all out at https://www.nebraskapollinatorweek.org/ Thanks in advance for your support!! Neil
Look what the wind blew in
Today is day 2 of strong winds from the south. I went back behind the garage (sheltered from the wind) to see how things were going in the butterfly garden. To my dismay I found a rabbit had eaten of my fledgling Leadplant and Illinois Bundleflower plants down to the ground. As I sat thereContinue reading “Look what the wind blew in”