On Saturday May 20 The Greater Charlotte Chapter of the CBS held a butterfly walk in Brunswick County. We started the morning checking blooming Chinquapin looking for Hairstreaks but with the overcast conditions we decided to head for the Green Swamp Eco. Area. Sunny conditions in the Green Swamp didn’t bring many butterflies but the plant life was abundant. The Flytraps were in bloom and gorgeous. We were also able to find Rosebud Orchid or Spreading Pogonia, Grass Pink, Nodding Ladies’ Tresses, Slender Ladies Tresses, and three species of Pitcher Plant. We then decided to head to a couple areas in the Green Swamp Gamelands and work our way back toward Ocean Isle Beach Rd. The afternoon weather was much better at the Chinquapins and we were treated to 5 Oak Hairstreaks with very close looks “1 foot” on several occasions. Special thanks to Taylor Piephoff for leading the walk and sharing his experience and knowledge of the area. Other participants were Chris and Cheryl Talkington. Here is a complete list for the day.
Yarbrough St. Morning
1 Banded Hairstreak
1 American Lady
1 Variegated Fritillary
1 Cloudywing Sp.
Green Swamp Eco. Area
8 Palamedes Swallowtail
1 Southern Cloudywing
2 American Lady
6 Pearl Crescent
Green Swamp Gamelands
1 Cloudless Sulphur
15 Varigated Fritillary
8 Buckeye
16 Palamedes Swallowtail
2 Fiery Skipper
1 Northern Broken Dash
12 Pearl Crescent
Yarbrough St. Afternoon
2 Am. Lady
5 Oak Hairstreak
1 Gray Hairstreak
1 Zarucco Duskywing
1 Juvenal’s Duskywing
1 Variegated Fritillary
Good Butterflying, Chris