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Rackensack Canyon was explored by 12 CAzBA members, including two members of the Arizona Native Plant Society, who helped identify and add to the Rackensack Plant List. We began in the downstream portion of the canyon where there was more riparian habitat with more plants. The main canyon was dry due to the lack of winter rains. More productive was the upper area of the main “Side Canyon” where there was water. A Yucca Giant-Skipper was found there by one of the observers.
Among the several species of wildflowers, a special treat was the sight of a blooming larkspur.
After lunch, a hike up to the Sears Kay Ruins added Checkered White, Martin’s Blue, and Great Purple Hairstreak.
Thirty species were recorded for the day: Pipevine Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Checkered White, Sara Orangetip, Sleepy Orange, Southern Dogface, Marine Blue, Reakirt’s Blue, Spring “Echo” Azure, Martin’s Blue, Great Purple Hairstreak, Elada Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot, Sagebrush Checkerspot, California Patch, Painted Lady, Empress Leilia, Mourning Cloak, Common Buckeye, Queen, Mournful Duskywing, Sleepy Duskywing, Meridian Duskywing, Northern Cloudywing, Arizona Powered-Skipper, Common Streaky-Skipper, Northern White-Skipper, Common Checkered-Skipper, Orange Skipperling, Yucca Giant-Skipper.
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Last Saturday, CAzBA had a booth at the Dragonfly Festival at the Rio Salado. Some of the other tables included: SW Monarch Studies, Butterfly Wonderland, and Dragonflies of the Rio Salado. About 600 people visited the festival, which gave us the chance to educate quite a few people from the central and west Phoenix area. Many crafts were done, and a good time was had by all. Thanks Jan and Marceline, Janet & Bob, Gail & Bob, and Adriane!
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Butterflies and some moths are near-universal symbols of natural beauty, but Linden Gladhill, a biochemist and photographer, has created a stunning set of photographs that introduce us to the natural beauty of butterflies and moths on a macro level unobservable by the human eye.
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18 CAzBA members and friends, traveled up the Beeline Highway to see what was flying on this nice spring day with only a scattered thin cloud cover. Having had relatively little rain this winter, the wildflowers were not abundant but there were enough to pull out the butterflies when the sun was fully out. Our first stop at Round Valley included a walk up a dry wash where as usual this time of year the Variable Checkerspots were out in force. We even located some large larvae on their foodplant: Chaparral Beardtongue. A small splinter group scrambled up to a nearby hilltop, where males of the Pipevine Swallowtail and California Patch were particularly active defending their territories. Later in the morning the group moved up to Sunflower Valley and saw a few species typical of elevations higher than Round Valley as we walked along the now closed "old" Beeline Highway. All counted, we observed 29 species, which is close to the maximum of 31 seen on this trip in previous years .
Pipevine Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Sleepy Orange, Dainty Sulphur, Southern Dogface, Cloudless Sulphur, Mexican Yellow, Orange Sulphur, Spring White, Checkered White, Spring Azure, Marine Blue, Martin’s Blue, Western Pygmy Blue,“Siva” Juniper Hairstreak, Sagebrush Checkerspot (pictured), Zela Metalmark, Elada Checkerspot, Variable Checkerspot, Queen, American Snout, Empress Leilia, California Patch, Painted Lady, Satyr Comma, Red-spotted Purple, Mourning Cloak, Common/White checkered-Skipper, Meridian Duskywing.
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Dr. Ronald L. Rutowski’s sustained interest, advice and encouragement in research and in public education for more than ten years are recognized , appreciated and hereby proclaimed.
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