Field Trip Notice: Piney Z/Lake Lafayette Heritage Trail Park, Half-Day (9AM to noon), Sunday, August 7, 2016
On this half-day trip we expect to see Giant Swallowtails as well as skippers on the (hopefully) blooming pickerel weed and buttonbush along the shoreline of Piney Z Lake. Other possibilities include Zebra Heliconian and Zabulon skippers on the trail. We should also be on the lookout for several species of dragonflies and damselflies that are abundant around the lakes. Seen recently were: four-spotted pennants, two-striped forceptails, hyacinth gliders and royal river cruisers.
Since we will be walking along the shoreline and in wooded areas, you need to bring mosquito and tick protection. Also bring close-focusing binoculars and water. Bathrooms are available at the parking area/playground.
Meet at the parking lot at 9 AM. Take Conner Blvd. from either Capital Circle or Apalachee Parkway. Turn east on Heritage Park Blvd. which dead ends at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park after the stop sign at the crossing street, Parkview Drive. Contact Marty Quinn at 850/877-2427 or martyquinn30@gmail.com if you have questions.
Annual Meeting and Potluck: Saturday, August 27, 2016
Please plan to attend our Chapter’s annual meeting and potluck Saturday, August 27th at the home of Travis and Karen MacClendon in Blountstown, Florida. The MacClendons have hosted our annual meeting several times, where we are always treated to hundreds of Gulf and Variegated Fritillaries on their trails and in their fields.
The function will begin at 10:00 AM EDT (9:00 AM CDT). You are welcome to explore the grounds during the cooler hours of the morning. The potluck will start at 12:30 EDT. Please bring a main dish, salad, or dessert to share. Drinks, plates, and utensils will be provided. Following lunch, we will have a brief meeting to review our Chapter’s accomplishments this past year and to plan for the coming one. We will also have a Treasurer’s report for the year and elect any Chapter officers that are needed.
For those of you who enjoy butterfly photography, there will be an opportunity to share photos after the meeting. Bring your digital images or videos on a USB key or a CD-ROM. Please limit yourself to 20 images or a five-minute video so that everyone has a chance to share. We will conclude our get-together around 3:00 PM EDT.
For those wishing to carpool, meet at the DEP parking lot at 9 AM EDT. If you have questions about getting to the meeting, please contact Dave McElveen at d.mcelveen@comcast.net or 850/841-0899. If you have questions about the logistics of the potluck, please contact Travis and Karen MacClendon at sivartmac@gmail.com or (850) 674-4408.
NOTE: To get to the MacClendons’ house, please follow the directions below. If you use Google or a GPS navigation system, it will most likely take you to an area with NO ACCESS to the MacClendons’ frontage road!!!!
COMING FROM THE EAST
1. Go west on Highway 20 through Bristol to Blountstown.
2. On Highway 20, go to the 2nd stoplight in Blountstown and turn left (south) on Highway 71.
3. Go 4.5 miles south on SR 71 and turn west (right) onto Abe Springs Rd. On your left before you turn is a largish white sign that says “Pine Grove Church”
4. Go about 2.5 miles on Abe Springs Rd. to Myers Dairy Rd. This will be your first and only right turn.
5. Turn right (north) on Myers Dairy Rd. Go about one half mile to a house with a long driveway on the right. The MacClendons’ address is 13755 on both the mail box and on a sign.
Come on in and Welcome!!
OR
1. Go west on I-10 take exit 174 onto Highway 12. This exit is about 30 miles west of Tallahassee.
2. Go South on Highway 12 for about 20 miles to Bristol.
3. Turn right (west) on Highway 20 and go about 4 miles or so to the second stoplight in Blountstown
4. Follow the directions given above after reaching the second stoplight in Blountstown.
COMING FROM THE WEST
1. Go east on I-10 to the second Marianna exit, which is SR 71.
2. Go right (south) on SR 71 to a few miles south of Altha and go right on Highway 275. There is a Coastal Gas Station (now defunct) on the SW corner at this turn.
3. Continue on 275 south across Highway 20 (red blinking light) and continue for about 2.3 miles.
4. Turn left (east) on Abe Springs-Bullhead Bay Rd. The street sign has been stolen, but directly across from the left turn on the right side of the road is a street sign saying “Ben Clark Rd.”
5. Continue on Abe Springs Rd. for about 2 miles and go left (north) on Myers Dairy Rd. The MacClendons are about 0.6 miles on the right. Mailbox post has 13755 on it.
OR
1. Go East on Highway 20 off of highway 231 until you reach highway 275 about 3-4 miles past Clarksville. Turn right (blinking light) onto highway 275 and continue for about 2.3 miles.
2. Turn left (East) on Abe Springs-Bullhead Bay Rd. This street sign is directly across the road from another street sign saying Ben Clark Rd.
3. Continue on Abe Springs Rd for about 2 miles and go left (North) on Myers Dairy Rd (our road).
4. We are about 0.6 miles on the right. Yard post has 13755 on it
Field Trip Report: Lake Talquin State Forest, North Ochlockonee Unit, July 7, 2016
Eight Hairstreak Chapter members went to the North Ochlockonee Unit of Lake Talquin State Forest on July 7th. No non-members attended this local half-day trip. The powerline cut north of the entrance, one of the principal butterfly areas in previous years, was being mowed when we arrived. All of its pickerelweed and buttonbush had been eliminated. Elsewhere, other flowers were sparse compared to last year. Nevertheless, we found the expected number of species (23) if not the usual number of individuals. Highlights were Gemmed Satyr, Southern Dogface. Northern Cloudywing and Least Skipper.
On the way back to DEP, we stopped at the recently opened Fred George Greenway (on Fred George Rd. just east of Capital Circle) to look for the unusual Arrowhead Spiketail dragonfly seen there on July 4th. We didn’t find that one, but did find a breeding population of Red Saddlebags, a new species for most of us, at the lower pond. At that pond we also had a close look at a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. So, while the trip had a weak beginning, it had a strong finish.
North American Butterfly Association 12th Annual Biennial Members’ Meeting
Every six years, the NABA Members’ Meeting and the Texas Butterfly Festival combine for a fun-filled event in Mission, Texas. More than 300 species of butterflies have been seen in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Within the U.S., about 150 of those species can be seen only in the Lower Grande Valley. The meeting dates are October 29th through November 1st. More information and registration can be obtained online at
http://texasbutterflyfestival.com/.
On this half-day trip we expect to see Giant Swallowtails as well as skippers on the (hopefully) blooming pickerel weed and buttonbush along the shoreline of Piney Z Lake. Other possibilities include Zebra Heliconian and Zabulon skippers on the trail. We should also be on the lookout for several species of dragonflies and damselflies that are abundant around the lakes. Seen recently were: four-spotted pennants, two-striped forceptails, hyacinth gliders and royal river cruisers.
Since we will be walking along the shoreline and in wooded areas, you need to bring mosquito and tick protection. Also bring close-focusing binoculars and water. Bathrooms are available at the parking area/playground.
Meet at the parking lot at 9 AM. Take Conner Blvd. from either Capital Circle or Apalachee Parkway. Turn east on Heritage Park Blvd. which dead ends at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park after the stop sign at the crossing street, Parkview Drive. Contact Marty Quinn at 850/877-2427 or martyquinn30@gmail.com if you have questions.
Annual Meeting and Potluck: Saturday, August 27, 2016
Please plan to attend our Chapter’s annual meeting and potluck Saturday, August 27th at the home of Travis and Karen MacClendon in Blountstown, Florida. The MacClendons have hosted our annual meeting several times, where we are always treated to hundreds of Gulf and Variegated Fritillaries on their trails and in their fields.
The function will begin at 10:00 AM EDT (9:00 AM CDT). You are welcome to explore the grounds during the cooler hours of the morning. The potluck will start at 12:30 EDT. Please bring a main dish, salad, or dessert to share. Drinks, plates, and utensils will be provided. Following lunch, we will have a brief meeting to review our Chapter’s accomplishments this past year and to plan for the coming one. We will also have a Treasurer’s report for the year and elect any Chapter officers that are needed.
For those of you who enjoy butterfly photography, there will be an opportunity to share photos after the meeting. Bring your digital images or videos on a USB key or a CD-ROM. Please limit yourself to 20 images or a five-minute video so that everyone has a chance to share. We will conclude our get-together around 3:00 PM EDT.
For those wishing to carpool, meet at the DEP parking lot at 9 AM EDT. If you have questions about getting to the meeting, please contact Dave McElveen at d.mcelveen@comcast.net or 850/841-0899. If you have questions about the logistics of the potluck, please contact Travis and Karen MacClendon at sivartmac@gmail.com or (850) 674-4408.
NOTE: To get to the MacClendons’ house, please follow the directions below. If you use Google or a GPS navigation system, it will most likely take you to an area with NO ACCESS to the MacClendons’ frontage road!!!!
COMING FROM THE EAST
1. Go west on Highway 20 through Bristol to Blountstown.
2. On Highway 20, go to the 2nd stoplight in Blountstown and turn left (south) on Highway 71.
3. Go 4.5 miles south on SR 71 and turn west (right) onto Abe Springs Rd. On your left before you turn is a largish white sign that says “Pine Grove Church”
4. Go about 2.5 miles on Abe Springs Rd. to Myers Dairy Rd. This will be your first and only right turn.
5. Turn right (north) on Myers Dairy Rd. Go about one half mile to a house with a long driveway on the right. The MacClendons’ address is 13755 on both the mail box and on a sign.
Come on in and Welcome!!
OR
1. Go west on I-10 take exit 174 onto Highway 12. This exit is about 30 miles west of Tallahassee.
2. Go South on Highway 12 for about 20 miles to Bristol.
3. Turn right (west) on Highway 20 and go about 4 miles or so to the second stoplight in Blountstown
4. Follow the directions given above after reaching the second stoplight in Blountstown.
COMING FROM THE WEST
1. Go east on I-10 to the second Marianna exit, which is SR 71.
2. Go right (south) on SR 71 to a few miles south of Altha and go right on Highway 275. There is a Coastal Gas Station (now defunct) on the SW corner at this turn.
3. Continue on 275 south across Highway 20 (red blinking light) and continue for about 2.3 miles.
4. Turn left (east) on Abe Springs-Bullhead Bay Rd. The street sign has been stolen, but directly across from the left turn on the right side of the road is a street sign saying “Ben Clark Rd.”
5. Continue on Abe Springs Rd. for about 2 miles and go left (north) on Myers Dairy Rd. The MacClendons are about 0.6 miles on the right. Mailbox post has 13755 on it.
OR
1. Go East on Highway 20 off of highway 231 until you reach highway 275 about 3-4 miles past Clarksville. Turn right (blinking light) onto highway 275 and continue for about 2.3 miles.
2. Turn left (East) on Abe Springs-Bullhead Bay Rd. This street sign is directly across the road from another street sign saying Ben Clark Rd.
3. Continue on Abe Springs Rd for about 2 miles and go left (North) on Myers Dairy Rd (our road).
4. We are about 0.6 miles on the right. Yard post has 13755 on it
Field Trip Report: Lake Talquin State Forest, North Ochlockonee Unit, July 7, 2016
Eight Hairstreak Chapter members went to the North Ochlockonee Unit of Lake Talquin State Forest on July 7th. No non-members attended this local half-day trip. The powerline cut north of the entrance, one of the principal butterfly areas in previous years, was being mowed when we arrived. All of its pickerelweed and buttonbush had been eliminated. Elsewhere, other flowers were sparse compared to last year. Nevertheless, we found the expected number of species (23) if not the usual number of individuals. Highlights were Gemmed Satyr, Southern Dogface. Northern Cloudywing and Least Skipper.
On the way back to DEP, we stopped at the recently opened Fred George Greenway (on Fred George Rd. just east of Capital Circle) to look for the unusual Arrowhead Spiketail dragonfly seen there on July 4th. We didn’t find that one, but did find a breeding population of Red Saddlebags, a new species for most of us, at the lower pond. At that pond we also had a close look at a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. So, while the trip had a weak beginning, it had a strong finish.
North American Butterfly Association 12th Annual Biennial Members’ Meeting
Every six years, the NABA Members’ Meeting and the Texas Butterfly Festival combine for a fun-filled event in Mission, Texas. More than 300 species of butterflies have been seen in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Within the U.S., about 150 of those species can be seen only in the Lower Grande Valley. The meeting dates are October 29th through November 1st. More information and registration can be obtained online at
http://texasbutterflyfestival.com/.
