Sycamore Canyon

Date & Time: 
October 10, 2015 - 12:23am
Meeting Place: 
White Rock Campground, Ruby Road off AZ 283 near Peña Blanca Lake
Trip Leader: 
Bill and Mary Adams

If you want to visit one of the premier canyons in SE Arizona, this is it! Although it is a long drive (approximately 1.5 hours from the 1st meeting place), most years it is quite productive and at the very least extremely scenic. We will be walking for approximately 1.0 - 1.5 miles down the canyon alonside the streambed. There is permanent flowing water in the canyon, beautiful rock formations, and high canyon walls to stimulate your senses. We will be looking for many species of butterflies, including Blues, Sulphurs, Admirals, Ladies, Checkerspots, Duskywings, Skippers, and possible tropical strays. Last year at this time we saw 44 species, including Barred Yellow and Common Mestra.

Walking will be on a narrow dirt trail alongside the streambed with a couple of stream crossings. Some areas are brushy and a few areas have moderately difficult rocky terrain. Sturdy hiking boots are recommended for this trip.

Trip Butterfly Reports: 

Rare species/unusual sightings are in bold type.

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor
  2. Giant Swallowtail Papilio cresphontes
  3. Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata
  4. Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme
  5. Southern Dogface Zerene cesonia
  6. Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae
  7. Barred Yellow Eurema daira
  8. Boisduval's Yellow Eurema boisduvaliana
  9. Mexican Yellow Eurema Mexicana
  10. Tailed Orange Abais proterpia
  11. Sleepy Orange Abais nicippe
  12. Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole
  13. Marine Blue Leptotes marina
  14. Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus
  15. Reakirt's Blue Echinargus isola
  16. Acmon Blue Plebejus Acmon texana
  17. Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis
  18. Arizona Metalmark Calephelis arizonensis
  19. American Snout Libytheana carinenta
  20. Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae
  21. Mexican Fritillary Euptoieta hegesia
  22. Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia
  23. Elf Microtia elva
  24. Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas
  25. Elada Checkerspot Texola elada
  26. Texan Crescent Anthanassa texana
  27. American Lady Vanessa virginiensis
  28. Common Buckeye Junonia coenia
  29. 'Dark' Tropical Buckeye Junonia evarete
  30. Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis
  31. 'Arizona' California Sister Adelpha bredowii
  32. Common Mestra Mestra amymone
  33. Tropical Leafwing Anaea aidea
  34. Goatwing Leafwing Anaea andria
  35. Queen Danaus gilippus
  36. Dorantes Longtail Urbanus dorantes
  37. AZ Powdered-skipper Systasea zampa
  38. Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis
  39. White Checkered-skipper Pyrgus albescens
  40. Desert Checkered-skipper Pyrgus philetas
  41. Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiaca
  42. Southern Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus
  43. Pahaska Skipper Hesperia pahaska
  44. Eufala Skipper Lerodea eufala

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.