by P. D. Hulce

The Houston Audubon Society High Island sanctuaries are usually the scene of intense birdwatching during spring and fall migration, but on July the 13th, ten eager observers braved the 90 degree heat to conduct the 1st annual High Island 4th of July Butterfly Count. Just like a Christmas Bird Count, the butterfly count takes place within a 15 mile diameter circle, so one group of participants started at the Anahuac NWR, while the group I was with started in High Island.

The gardens at the Boy Scout Woods, maintained by Winnie Burkett and the great HAS volunteers, were in full bloom and just covered with skippers, the "Empidonax" of the butterfly world. The big Brazilian Skippers were quickly identified, and after an hour or two of close observation, we were able to identify an even dozen species in this area. At one point, a Common Checkered Skipper and a Tropical Checkered Skipper sat motionless within one foot of each other, allowing excellent looks at two similar species. Before leaving, we managed to catch a lovely Speckled King Snake for a quick examination.

Our group then moved to the Smith Oaks Sanctuary. As we exited our cars, the day's only Red Admiral was working the nearby hedgerow. Walking across the first field turned up over 100 Southern Skipperlings, as well as several Great Southern Whites and numerous Little Sulphurs. Exploring a combination of the trails at Smith Oaks added such species as Southern Cloudywing, and Juvenal's, Horaces's, and Funereal Duskywings. One of the most exciting sightings, however, was of a Black Witch, a moth with a 6 inch wingspan, seen by several members of the group.

We returned to the bleachers at Boy Scout Woods for a 12:30 countdown and were elated to hear of the sightings from the Anahuac group, including Viceroy, Black Swallowtail, and Gulf Fritillary, none of which we had seen at High Island. A leisurely countdown produced 499 individuals of 30 species. Thanks to all of the participants for helping to launch this exciting new count. Next year's count will be held on either July 12th or 19th, 1997.

 

List of Species Seen: 18 Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor 22 Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes 12 Giant Swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes 3 Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus 10 Great Southern White, Ascia monuste 95 Little Sulphur, Eurema lisa 4 Gray Hairstreak, Strymon melinus 1 Red-banded Hairstreak, Calycopis cecrops 5 Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae 7 Phaon Crescent, Phyciodes phaon 6 Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos 1 Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta 8 Viceroy, Limenitis archippus 20 Tawny Emperor, Asterocampa clyton 2 Monarch, Danaus plexippus 2 Southern Cloudywing, Thorybes bathyllus 6 Northern Cloudywing, Thorybes pylades 6 Juvenal's Duskywing, Erynnis juvenalis 2 Horace's Duskywing, Erynnis horatius 6 Funereal Duskywing, Erynnis funeralis 87 Common Checkered Skipper, Pyrgus communis 20 Tropical Checkered Skipper, Pyrgus oileus 4 Clouded Skipper, Lerema accius 1 Least Skipper, Ancyloxypha numitor 110 Southern Skipperling, Copaeodes minimus 10 Fiery Skipper, Hylephila phyleus 18 Whirlabout, Polites vibex 6 Dun Skipper, Euphyes vestris 2 Eufala Skipper, Lerodea eufala 20 Brazilian Skipper, Calpodes ethlius 499 individuals, 30 species.

Participants included:

Bill Graber, Ginny Hartman, Jose Hernandez, P. D. Hulce, Kathy Merritt, Fay Meek, Melinda Parmer, Janet Rathjen, Sharon Thruse