A couple more October county records to report: On October 16 Colin Croft photographed a Crescent butterfly in the Wildcat Hills of southern Scotts Bluff County. We forwarded the photograph to Steve Spomer at UNL who shared it with other experts and identified it as a Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta). Scotts Bluff County is onlyContinue reading “Just when you thought it was over …”
Tag Archives: Colin Croft
More Marine Blues
While most other butterflies have passed their peak numbers, the same cannot be said for Marine Blues. This past weekend five observers reported Marine Blues from six counties where they had not been previously reported. Colin Croft found one in Banner County in the far southern reaches of Wildcat Hills SRA. Jonathan Nikkila found themContinue reading “More Marine Blues”
Marine Blue found in Scotts Bluff County
On July 19 Colin Croft was exploring Buffalo Creek Wildlife Management Area in southern Scotts Bluff County when he came across a Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) which hadn’t previously been found in Scotts Bluff County. Marine Blues stray to our area from their southern home range and breed continuously (feeding on various legumes) once arrivingContinue reading “Marine Blue found in Scotts Bluff County”
Another California Tortoiseshell
Once three California Tortoiseshells were found in Sioux County on July 11 it seemed likely more sightings would follow. This has proved out as another has been sighted by Marie Smith at her residence in Gering (Scotts Bluff Co.). She reports that one has been in her yard for three days. What a treat! ColinContinue reading “Another California Tortoiseshell”
Invasion of the California Tortoiseshells
How to follow up with the first Mulberry Wing Skipper photographed in Nebraska? Colin Croft was kind enough to share his experience from July 11. With a relatively milder day forecast for Monday July 11th, I headed off north into SiouxCounty from Scottsbluff/Gering to check up on my little quarter section of pasture about15 milesContinue reading “Invasion of the California Tortoiseshells”
Field Crescent found in Scotts Bluff County
Back on June 15 Colin Croft sent me a link to some pictures he had taken earlier that day, wondering if I might know what it was. Knowing my limitations I passed it along to Steve Spomer who shared it with Mike Fisher and James Scott. They were in agreement that Colin had found aContinue reading “Field Crescent found in Scotts Bluff County”
Something you don’t see every year – a Zephyr Anglewing
Although virtually the entire state is in some form of drought warmer weather is finally here, albeit sporadically. There are multiple reports of Henry’s Elfins from eastern Nebraska but so far the find of this young season was the discovery of a Zephyr Anglewing by Colin Croft who got a photograph of one at theContinue reading “Something you don’t see every year – a Zephyr Anglewing”
Another Dainty Sulfur Record
Master Naturalist Colin Croft contacted me to report another county record for the Dainty Sulfur (Nathalis iole), this one from Scotts Bluff County where he has sighted/photographed it on numerous occasions. Many thanks Colin!! That leaves eight counties without iole records. We likely won’t get them knocked out this year but be on the lookoutContinue reading “Another Dainty Sulfur Record”
Least Skipper found in Banner County
While Colin Croft was exploring the far reaches of Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area on August 22 he came across a Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor) in a moist canyon. After consulting his GPS he determined he had left Scotts Bluff County and was in 150′ into Banner County where the Least Skipper had not yetContinue reading “Least Skipper found in Banner County”
Three more county records!!
On July 5 Colin Croft found a Least Skipper in a moist valley in the Wildcat Hills in Scotts Bluff County, a county where it had not previously been reported. Then three days later Jon Nikkila sighted a couple more Least Skippers at North Loup State Recreation Area in Howard County (again previously unreported) whileContinue reading “Three more county records!!”