Eastern Pine Elfin - Earliest record ever for New Jersey! 3-13-12

It has been confirmed, i now have the record date for the earliest Eastern Pine Elfin in New Jersey!

 

Here is the email from Mike Gochfeld:

SHAWN----NICE FIND. That is indeed pretty early.

I just found the early date for Eastern Pine Elfin. Jim Springer found one near Helmetta Pond,Monroe Township, Middlesex County on April 11, 2010. The previous early record for our area was on April 17, 2005

Our SJBF log goes back only four years (this is our 5th year), but here are our previous FOY dates for eastern pine elfin in South Jersey:

4/2/08 (Will Kerling, Lizard Tail Swamp Preserve, Cape May Co)

4/16/09 (Will Kerling, LTSP)

4/8/10 (Will Kerling, Old Robbins Trail, Cape May Co)

4/9/11 (Jean Gutsmuth, Belleplain State Forest, Cape May Co)

So, Shawn’s find is 3-4 weeks earlier than past years and many miles (~70+?) north of where we usually see the first individuals.

Good find, Shawn!

Keep at it!

I added Shawn’s photo and a blog note about the early season we have been having here:

wp.stockton.edu/sjbfs/2012/03/14/does-pine-elfin-make-a-b...

who would have thought of looking for butterflies in March?

 

At Silver Ridge in Toms River, New Jersey 3-13-12

Done