Trip report: Rackensack Canyon 22 April by Ron Rutowski
Conditions for butterflying were close to ideal for twelve field trip participants in Rackensack Canyon last Saturday (22 April 2023). The stream was flowing and the day was bright and warm. We tallied 28 species in the canyon with Variable Checkerspots and White/Common Checkered Skippers being most numerous. We moved on on to Sear Kay Ruin for lunch and a walk up to the hilltop ruins where many male California Patch butterflies and Pipevine Swallowtails were waiting for females to appear. There, we added another three species to our list for the day bringing the total to 31. Thanks to Marceline for keeping a record of the butterflies we saw and to all the participants for their enthusiasm and watchful eyes!
Two-tailed Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, Checkered White, Dainty Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, Southwestern Orangetip, Southern Dogface, Sleepy Orange, Variable Checkerspot, Reakirt’s Blue, Spring Azure, Acmon/Lupine Blue, Juniper Hairstreak, California Patch, Gray (Common) Buckeye, Dark (Tropical) Buckeye, American Snout, Queen, Painted Lady, American Lady, Elada Checkerspot, Empress Leilia, White/Common Checkered-Skipper, Northern White-Skipper, Funereal Duskywing, Meridian Duskywing, Orange Skipperling, Golden-headed Scallopwing.
Added at Sear Kay Ruin:
Cloudless Sulphur, Common Powdered-Skipper, Pahaska Skipper.
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