Field Trip Report April 13 – Rackensack Canyon by Janet Witzeman
Twenty-six participants attended the trip to this popular area, including about a dozen members of the Arizona Native Plant Society. This was a joint trip which enabled us to learn the names of many plants we had not known previously. A number of new species were added to our Rackensack plant list.
Some of the group hiked to the upper part of the side canyon and others spent more time in the main canyon. A total of 25 species was recorded, including a Yucca Giant-Skipper, seen and photographed on an obscure twig by only one person. What we thought might be a Meridian Duskywing turned out to be a Sleepy Duskywing (see photo). California Patches, usually uncommon, were common.
Those who could remain past noon, hiked up to the ruins at Sears Kay, where one person was able to see her lifer Great Purple Hairstreak.
Species recorded: Pipevine Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Checkered White, Sleepy Orange, Orange Sulphur, Southern Dogface, Dainty Sulphur, Great Purple Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, Reakirt’s Blue, Spring Azure, Tiny Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot, Sagebrush Checkerspot, California Patch, Painted Lady, Empress Leilia, Mourning Cloak, Common Buckeye, Funereal Duskywing, Sleepy Duskywing, Northern White-Skipper, Common Checkered-Skipper, Orange Skipperling, Yucca Giant-Skipper.
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