Date & Time:
January 31, 2017 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
Meeting Place:
Meet at 10:00 a.m. at McDonald’s/Safeway parking lot at Tanque Verde Road and Catalina Highway.
Special Notes:
Due to predicted cool weather, this trip was rescheduled from Jan 28th to Jan 31st. A National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Annual, Senior, Access, Military, Volunteer, Golden Age or Golden Access) or a fee is required for the parking lot in Molino Basin.
We’ll walk the paved campground road, approximately 1.5 mi. round trip. Weather permitting we’ll search for early season flyers such as Sara Orangetips and Brown Elfins.
Type of terrain: Most of the walking will be along the paved road. Those who are able may choose to walk along the hillsides adjacent to the road, where there are no trails but only rocky grassy terrain.
Trip Butterfly Reports:
On our hunt for early Spring butterflies, not many butterflies were seen. We saw about six Pipevine Swallowtails (Battus philenor), one Sulphur sp., about 20 Spring Azures (Celastrina ladon echo), and one American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) at Molino Basin. On the way down we saw a Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia). Weather was cool and slightly windy, warming at mid-day. Water is flowing and manzanita is budding but not blooming yet.
General Information
Beginners are welcome on all field trips! Experienced members will share their butterfly knowledge and expertise with all field trip participants. Children accompanied by a responsible adult are welcome on SEABA field trips. A donation of $5 per person to benefit SEABA will be appreciated. Carpooling from the meeting place is encouraged and it is kind to share gas expenses. If high clearance vehicles are required for a trip, it will be noted in individual trip descriptions. Dress for the field with sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Bring your own water, snacks, and lunch. Close-focusing binoculars, cameras, and field guides will be helpful aids for butterfly observation and identification. Trips usually end by mid-afternoon unless noted differently in individual trip descriptions.
Please be aware that:
1. Collecting or netting is NOT allowed on SEABA field trips.
2. Pets, with the exception of service animals, are NOT allowed on SEABA field trips.
3. All field trip participants are required to sign SEABA's Release and Assumption of Risk form at the beginning of the trip. The form may be viewed at SEABA Release.
4. Please arrive a few minutes prior to the meeting time posted for trips to facilitate paperwork and introductions to other trip participants.
5. Field trips may be cancelled or rescheduled on short notice due to changing weather or road conditions. Please check the website for updates prior to the Field Trip.
Our Southeastern Arizona Butterfly Checklist can be downloaded here. Please note that the SEABA checklist is copyrighted.
Local NABA Butterfly Counts are listed at NABA Counts
Field trips organized by the Central Arizona Butterfly Association are listed at their website: CAzBA.
