The rabbitbrush field trip Sunday October 29 in memory of Bill Adams. Bill and Mary did a fabulous job as trip leaders. The last trip they led was to the rabbitbrush on Harshaw Creek October 29, 2016 – one year to the day from when this year’s trip will be. Bill was a dedicated butterflyer, a committed SEABA member, a successful businessman, and a gentleman. He used his extensive business experience to help guide SEABA. We’re fortunate to have had Bill as a member.
This annual fun and exciting SEABA trip generally produces many species in a small and easily accessible area. The Rabbitbrush is now blooming in Harshaw Creek down near Hale ranch. We expect a fun day and multiple species of butterflies such as all three Ladies, various Skippers, Monarchs, Queens, Gulf Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary, Common and Tropical Buckeye and many other species including the possibility of one or two tropical strays.
We will make a short stop at the Patagonia Gardens in town and then proceed to Hale Ranch about a mile past the Harshaw Creek Rabbitbrush site we used to visit. This site got scoured with a flood during the monsoons and the plants are not blooming, but blooms are occurring further down the road, and blooms are also reported down the Empire Ranch road. Watch your email for a last minute update in the order of this trip, depending on scouting results.
Type of terrain: We will be walking in several wash/creek beds on semi-level but uneven terrain. It is very brushy and long pants are advised due to stickers etc.
For information please contact: Larry fellows at: rockpix@comcast.net
Things to remember: Beginners are welcome on all field trips. A donation of $5 per person to benefit SEABA will be appreciated. Carpooling from the meeting site is encouraged, and it is kind to share gas expenses. Dress for the field with sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, insect repellant; bring water, snacks, lunch, close-focus binoculars, camera, and field guides. Trips usually end mid-afternoon unless noted differently above. Please remember that no collecting is allowed on SEABA field trips.
The first annual Bill Adams Memorial Rabbitbrush Trip began at the Patagonia Butterfly Garden October 29. After brief stops at there and at the community garden, Paton Center, and the Post Office, attendees proceeded to Las Cienegas east of Sonoita to view butterflies on rabbitbrush, which was in full bloom. The weather was sunny, with a moderate breeze that likely limited butterfly flight. We made three stops within Las Cienegas and observed 31 species during the day. One of the highlights of the day was to see a Boisduval’s Yellow, the first one seen on a SEABA trip to date in 2017. Butterflies seen:
- Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor
- Checkered White Pontia protodice
- Cabbage White Pieris rapae
- Southern Dogface Colias cesonia
- Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae
- Boisduval's Yellow Eurema boisduvaliana
- Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana
- Tailed Orange Eurema proterpia
- Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe
- Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus
- Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus
- Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile
- Marine Blue Leptotes marina
- Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus
- Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola
- Acmon Blue Plebejus Acmon texana
- Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis
- American Snout Libytheana carinenta
- Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae
- Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia
- Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana
- Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
- West Coast Lady Vanessa annabella
- Common Buckeye Junonia coenia
- Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax
- Monarch Danaus plexippus
- Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis
- Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis
- Clouded Skipper Lerema accius
- Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus
- Eufala Skipper Lerodea eufala