2020 June 20 evening

 

Message from Gordon Hart:

 

Hello Butterfly Watchers,
The June count period starts Saturday June 20 until Sunday June 28. This is an informal census of butterfly numbers and species in Greater Victoria. The area is defined by the Christmas Bird Count circle, extending from Victoria to Brentwood Bay and Island View Road in Central Saanich, and west to Happy Valley and Triangle Mountain, and Langford Lake and Goldstream areas. 
You can submit a count any time over the count period, just use a separate form for each count and location. In the case of repeat or duplicate counts, I will use the higher numbers. To submit counts, please use the form from the VNHS website at: https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/?p=33
If you have difficulty with the form, just send me an email with the information.
Thank-you for submitting your sightings and good luck with your count.
-Gordon 

 

 

   Re: Teasels at McIntyre reservoir, Gordon suggests: “I wonder if there is someone to talk to about the Teasels later on? The  younger Michell who is often at the farm market is friendly to birders so perhaps someone could ask him if he could leave them for a few weeks.”

 

   So…, if anyone gets an opportunity…

 

   Jeff Gaski n writes:  Just a quick note to let you know that Kirsten Mills just phoned and told me she saw a Red Admiral,  3 Painted Ladies, 6 Lorquin’s Admirals and a Western Tiger Swallowtail on Mount Tolmie around 1: 30 p.m. today, June 20.  The Red Admiral and Ladies were by the reservoir.

 

  Gordon Hart sends a picture of a Crab Spider Misumena vatia  with some formidable prey at Munn Road:

 

Misumena vatia (Ara.: Thomisidae) with bumble bee.  Gordon Hart

 

   Jeremy Tatum went to Lochside Drive between Lohbrunner’s and Blenkinsop Lake this afternoon, hoping to see some of the succession of rare birds that have been queueing up there recently.  I didn’t see any of them, but by way of compensation I saw a spectacular Essex Skipper that I bet some of the crack birders missed.