Red-spotted Purple, Wildcat Ridge, NJ, July 2, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Butterflies are stealing the local nature news lately. An abundance of Great Spangled Fritillaries, Hairstreak spp. and other species are covering appropriate habitats during the past few weeks. Compton Tortoiseshells, Coral Hairstreaks and Tawny Emperors highlight the 20-plus species of butterflies seen at Wildcat Ridge WMA on July 2.

Not all is rosy in the butterfly world in 2015. This observer can count the number of Monarchs he has seen this year on the fingers of one hand. Swallowtails do not seem to be faring much better.

Compton Tortoiseshell, Wildcat Ridge, NJ, July 2, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Coral Hairstreak, Wildcat Ridge, NJ, July 2, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Tawny Emperor, Wildcat Ridge, NJ, July 2, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

The best reference for New Jersey butterflies is the web page for the North Jersey Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association. The link for species accounts is here.

Take a walk to the Friends Blind at the Great Swamp NWR Wildlife Observation Center and be greeted at the bridge by a robustly vocal Marsh Wren.

Marsh Wren, Great Swamp NWR, July 4, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

• Morris County
• Somerset County

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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