Lee State and Sandhills NWR, SC

May 10, 2008

Trip Report
Lee State Natural Area
and
Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
May 10, 2008

Our trips to Lee State Natural Area near Bishopville and Sandhills NWR were
led by Doug DeNeved. In attendance were Pam DeNeved and Dave and Marty
Kastner. We began at 10:00 on a warm, mostly sunny day at Lee. We walked a
little then followed a road by car, stopping when we saw butterflies. The
Palamedes and Buckeye butterflies were the most common species we saw.
At 3:00 we decided to drive to Sandhills NWR to see butterflies, but also to
see the bog of Pitcher plants. When we turned onto a sand road that had
been recently grated with moist edges, the area was thick with Buckeyes. After
the first five minutes, I stopped counting because I had already reached 30
individuals!! As we drove on, we observed many other Buckeyes in flight,
obtaining nectar and getting nutrients near puddles. The number of Buckeyes
present in about 2.5 hours was at least 200!! This was a very exciting site to
see! The pitcher plant bog that we wanted to see had been burned either by a
prescribed burn or other means. We were disappointed, but we sure loved
seeing the Buckeyes! One of my field guides says that they are migratory. They
may have been on their migration. I would like to go back to see if they
have moved on or have reproduced in the area.

Lee State Natural Area&

Palamedes 12
Tiger Swallowtail 5
Cloudless Sulphur 4
Red Spotted Purple 7
Buckeye 11
American Lady 5
Spicebush 2
Pearl Crescent 3
Sleepy Orange 1
Red Admiral 1
Question Mark 3
Comma 4
Southern Pearly Eye 1
Creole Pearly Eye 2
Zabulon Skipper 2
Eastern Tailed Blue 1
Carolina Satyr 1
Snout 1
Spring Azure 1
We also observed a very small skipper, possibly Least Skipper.
Total species 21
Total individuals 68

Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

Palamedes 13
Spicebush 1
Tiger Swallowtail 5
Variegated Fritillary 11
Sleepy Orange 1
Cloudless Sulphur 3
Eastern Tailed Blue 2
Spring Azure 1
Pearl Crescent 1
Buckeye 200+

We also observed many small Sulphur butterflies that never landed long
enough to identify.

Total Species 10
Total individuals 38 plus 200+ Buckeyes plus 30-50 small yellow Sulphurs.

It was a very good butterfly day!!
Marty