Fieldtrip report: 26 March, 2011, Round- and Sunflower Valleys by Ron Rutowski
An avid group of 12 spent a beautifully sunny spring day butterflying at two locations along the Beeline Highway in the Mazatzal Mountain. We went first to Round Valley (RV) where we explored an unnamed water course that runs into Sycamore Creek from the east in Round Valley. As the morning warmed the number and diversity of butterflies we saw rose but from the outset the Variable Checkerspot was as expected far and away the species that was most abundant. We then adjourned to Sunflower Valley (SV) and after a brief break for lunch at the lower end of the closed section of the old Beeline Highway we wandered up the road to the USFS work center. Again, Checkerspots were the order of the day with Sagebrush Checkerspots as abundant here as the Variable Checkerspots were in Round Valley. Here is a list of the 31 species seen and where they were seen.
Pipevine Swallowtail – RV, SV; Two-tailed Swallowtail - SV; Dainty Sulphur - SV; Orange Sulphur - SV; Southern Dogface - RV; Spring White - SV; Pearly Marble - RV; Sara Orangetip – SV; American Snout – RV; Variable (Chalcedon) Checkerspot –RV, SV; Sagebrush Checkerspot -SV; Tiny Checkerspot – SV; Mylitta Crescent - SV; Texan Crescent - SV; Mourning Cloak - SV; Empress Leilia - RV; Common Buckeye – RV,SV; Painted Lady - SV; Spring “Echo” Azure – RV, SV; Brown Elfin - SV; “Siva” Juniper Hairstreak - SV; Western Pygmy Blue - SV; Square-spotted (Martin’s) Blue – SV; Lupine Blue - SV; Zela Metalmark – SV; Duskywing sp. (white fringed) - RV; Pahaska Skipper - SV; Orange Skipperling - RV; Golden-headed Scallopwing - RV; Northern White Skipper – RV,SV; Common Checkered Skipper – RV, SV.
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