Re: [SBB] Henry Coe

Hi Michael et al.,

Michael's inclusion of a few butterfly sightings may be a good precedent for the list, at least for this season. Although we surely don't want to set a precedent of wandering very far off-topic (this list's tight birding focus being what makes it so valuable), nonetheless, I'm sure many of us enjoy spotting butterflies and dragonflies through our optics as well.

Butterfly sightings may have special conservation significance this summer. The May 9 SF Chronicle front page lead article spotlights an unprecedented single-year dropoff in numbers of butterflies throughout lowland areas of the state. Many species are virtually absent from their known habitats this year. All that foul spring weather seems to have interrupted the life cycles of immature 'flies rather drastically.

Assuming we are as careful in our butterfly ID work as we are with birds, it may be useful in conservation research to have some of our sightings on record among those of our birds, as we represent perhaps the largest bloc of careful observers wandering around out there.

At Hidden Villa, where I have recorded more than 40 butterfly species, I am seeing less than 20 so far this season (May is a peak month for diversity here.) I'm glad to say that I saw my first California Sister of the year here today; normally they are abundant near oaks by now. A few Mourning Cloaks have passed through in the past couple of weeks. Variable (Chalcedon) Checkerspots are present in fair numbers, but at no more than 25-50% of typical numbers. Similarly, one can see a sprinkling of Echo Blues on the farm now, but at numbers well below those expected at this time of year. Some Green Hairstreaks are active in Hidden Villa chaparral areas, and I've seen several Pale Swallowtails over the past week.

On 4/29 I observed a Sara Orangetip here, but they are never common at HV.

I promise to include some token birds in my next 'bug post'.

--Garth Harwood

----- Original Message -----

From: michael mammoser

To: south-bay-birds

Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 2:14 PM

Subject: [SBB] Henry Coe

I made the hike in to Henry Coe again today, 12 May 06, this time finding the rock outcrop that had the CANYON WREN. It was singing on-and-off for the ten miniutes I was there, and gave some reasonably good binocular views. Numbers of WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were buzzing around the rocks as well. It's always nice to see swifts at a "natural" nest site rather than the man-made structures they use down in the urban areas. A singing BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was found about halfway up to the wren spot.

This location is about a 2 mile hike in along the Grizzly Gulch Trail from its start at the end of Gilroy Hot Springs Road, and is fairly heavily uphill going in. Lots and lots of ticks here too; I had to flick about 25 off of me during this hike and saw dozens more on the grass blades overhanging the trail.

Got a couple of "life" butterflies today; a CALIFORNIA SISTER and a BRAMBLE HAIRSTREAK.

Michael Mammoser

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References:
	>[SBB] Henry Coe (From: michael mammoser <[[email protected]]>)