The butterfly season has begun! A lone Milbert’s Tortoiseshell was sighted in Walla Walla County on Jan. 20, the first butterfly of 2023. Carl Barrentine reported 4 moth species in his yard during the first half of January. It will only get better from this time forward.
WBA’s 2023 Field Trip Schedule is in the works. We are trying something new this season. A few outings will have set dates (TBD). However, a few others will note the site with a prospective date range (TBD). We had many cancellations last year due inclement weather, and to a late wet spring making it hard to determine when target species would be flying. If you are interested in one of the trips with a date range, sign up with the trip leader now. You will be contacted as the season moves forward with a firm date.
WBA will continue to monitor and adapt to COVID levels and guidelines for our state.
To whet your appetite for the warm season ahead, our -working schedule follows. A final schedule with any updates will be sent out via Noticeline in late February.
Elfin Quest, Hoodsport, late April, TBD. Melanie Weiss
Explore along forest roads and power line corridors where Hoary Elfin, Moss’s Elfin, Western Pine Elfin and Bramble Green Hairstreak are known to fly. A few other surprises may come our way, too.
San Juan Island trip, target species is the endangered Island Marble. Date: May 31 and June 1.
Our two day visit will include volunteer and viewing activities. We are arranging with On Sacred Ground Land Trust for an opportunity to perform habitat restoration for the Island Marble. In addition, we will be given a short tour of the rearing lab by the park biologists, and will be led to several sites where the species is known to fly. Note: viewing of this endangered species will be from outside the fenced habitat. Binoculars and zoom cameras are suggested. We will be visiting at peak flying time for the species. Fingers crossed that we will be able to observe activity, but no guarantee. It will be a grand adventure whatever occurs. Difficulty level 2. National Park; no nets.
We have been advised that camping and motel reservations should be made early for this beautiful location. I have links for campgrounds, some of which open for reservations on March 1. A ferry ride is part of the fun!
Please sign up ASAP with Melanie if you are interested. Group size will be limited to 10 participants. The confirmed date will be emailed to participants with additional information.
Trip leader: Melanie Weiss
Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, south of Olympia, mid May.
No Nets, and Stay On Trail. Camas, spring butterflies, and grassland birds.
But, please note that Mima Mounds is right next to a busy gun club; if you are very gun-shy, this is not the trip for you. It is perfectly safe, just it can be very loud. Difficulty level 2-no slopes, some paved ADA-accessible trail as well as gravel. Regina Johnson
Gold Hunter’s Hairstreak, Klickitat, late May-early June, TBD. Sign up with Jim Reed
Boulder Creek, Okanogan County, early June TBD. Cheryl Bellin
Explore several roadside areas on the way to Freezeout Ridge. Target species is the Freija Fritillary which resides in Washington state only in this northern region of Okanogan County. Blues, elfins, duskywings and swallowtails are also likely. As time permits we will swing by a Cub Creek hotspot which last year resulted in 28 species for the day. All wheel drive and higher clearance recommended.
Sign up with Chery. Limited to 10-12 participants, Level 2
‘Monarch weekend’, June 10-11, may be one or two days, TBD. David James A visit to one or two Monarch breeding sites along the Columbia and/or Snake Rivers (eg Crab Creek, McNary Dam) to spot the (hopefully) newly arrived migrant Monarchs from California. If we don’t see Monarchs we will delight in the heavenly scent of milkweed in peak bloom and likely see Viceroys!
Sign up with David James.
LeonaLand: last 2 weeks of June.
A trip to the High Pumice Desert of Central Oregon to see the world’s smallest and rarest butterfly. Leona’s Little Blue occurs only in a 15 square mile high desert area east of Crater Lake National Park. Join David James for his annual monitoring of the population of this charismatic but vulnerable butterfly. Precise dates to be decided in late May.
Bethel Ridge, June 24. David James
A favorite high-elevation site west of Yakima that should be in peak bloom with abundant butterflies. A good selection from all families should be present, including Western Sulphurs and Mountain Parnassians.
Sign up with David James.
Big Four Ice Caves, Mtn. Loop Hwy. July 5 & Aug 21. David Droppers
Due to the crowds, this will be a weekday trip. Sign up for one or both trips. Highly recommended that if you make one, you should try to make the other – always fun to see what a difference a few weeks makes in the fauna.
Sign up with David Droppers.
First Creek (off Reecer main road) at ~6000′, July 15. David James
Expect to see anywhere from 20-30 species at this newly discovered site, including six fritillary, four white/sulphur and three checkerspot species. With expert WBA eyes focused on this habitat, we may well turn up additional species!
Sign up with David James.
WBA Butterfly Weekend, July 21-23. Metaline Falls.
We will be based at the Historic Washington Hotel in Metaline Falls and fan out from there for our field trips. Lodging and camping facilities are somewhat limited so don’t delay in making reservations.
White Pass exploratory trip, early August, one weekend day.
We will explore under the chair lifts at the ski area, the Nordic area, and various lakes/ponds/wet meadows/campgrounds along the highway and the PCT. Difficulty level 3. Regina Johnson.
TBD, Aug. 4. Location to be determined based on current ‘hot spots’.
Sign up with Cathy Clark or Dan Dunphy.
Big Four Ice Caves, Aug 21, Monday. David Droppers
This is a followup to David’s earlier July 5 trip. Always fun to see what a difference a few weeks makes in the fauna. Sign up with David Droppers.
Crystal Mountain, near Mt. Rainier, Aug. 25, Friday. Regina Johnson, Melanie Weiss
A repeat of last season’s popular trip. We will take the gondola up to the top of the ridge and butterfly in the alpine meadows along a trail with stunning views and late season fliers and flowers. Requires paying gondola fee.
Sign up with Regina Johnson. Limited to 12, Level 3 (slopes, altitude)
Quartz Mountain, possible late summer trip. Melanie Weiss
Perhaps as the season progresses, a few more trips will be added. Keep watch for Noticeline announcements of any
‘Flash’ field trips that may occur throughout the season. Possibilities: Western Pygmy Blue sightings, Coronis Fritillary migration, late season fliers.
And now for something completely different:
A Royal Tour of the Western Monarchy: Thanksgiving week (November 19-25)
Tour of up to 25 Monarch butterfly overwintering sites from Pismo beach north up the coast to Marin County over 5-6 days with David James. See well-known winter aggregation sites like Pismo Beach and Pacific Grove but also lesser- known sites in places like Cambria and Bolinas.
Non-consumptive appreciation of butterflies is central to our purpose, basic to our approach, and the guiding principle behind general membership field trips. Collecting of adult butterflies is not allowed on these trips. Collecting of eggs and larvae for rearing is accepted on condition that individuals raised to adult stage are released at their original location.
DIFFICULTY RATINGS:
- Easy, mostly by car, minor walking along roads.
- Fairly limited walking, some slopes may involved.
- Moderate, 3-4 miles walking, or with some slopes.
- Difficult, hiking required off road, may have short steep sections, total of 4 miles or so.
- Strenuous, extended hiking on trails with steep terrain, 4-8 miles.