Despite the sunshine, the morning remained chilly and windy as five people conducted this week's survey. The flight muscles of butterflies must be at a high enough temperature for them to function, so those species that are active in the winter usually have very hairy bodies to help retain the heat that they absorb from the sun. The Common/White Checkered-skipper pictured below is a good example. Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings: Danaus plexippus (monarch) photo by Val Bugh Hemiargus isola (Reakirt's blue) photo by Val Bugh Pyrgus communis/albescens (common/white checkered-skipper) photo by Harriett Wolf Agraulis vanillae (gulf fritillary, larva) photo by Val Bugh Cucullia sp. (moth, larva) photo by Val Bugh Manduca rustica (rustic sphinx, larva) photo by Val Bugh Andrena sp. (mining bee) photo by Val Bugh Pasimachus sp. (ground beetle) photo by Val Bugh Copestylum avidum (flower fly - hairy eyes!) photo by Val Bugh Lucilia sp. (blow fly) photo by Val Bugh Unknown sp. (midge, male) photo by Val Bugh Trimerotropis pallidipennis (pallid-winged grasshopper) photo by Val Bugh Craspeduchus uhleri (seed bug) photo by Val Bugh Stagmomantis carolina (Carolina mantis, nymph) photo by Val Bugh Mecaphesa sp. (crab spider, male) photo by Val Bugh Spinus psaltria (lesser goldfinch) photo by Barbara Ribble Pipilo maculatus (spotted towhee) photo by Harriett Wolf Birds: Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) Western Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica) Mammals: Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus) Insects & Spiders: order family genus/species common name lepidoptera   lycaenidae   Hemiargus isola   Reakirt's Blue    nymphalidae   Danaus plexippus   Monarch       Euptoieta claudia   Variegated Fritillary       Vanessa virginiensis   American Lady       Vanessa atalanta   Red Admiral       Agrauilis vanillae   Gulf Fritillary (adult & larva)    pieridae   Eurema nicippe   Sleepy Orange    hesperiidae   Pyrgus communis/albescens   Common/White Checkered-skipper    noctuidae   Cucullia sp.   Moth (larva)    crambidae   Uresiphita reversalis   Genista Caterpillar    sphingidae   Manduca rustica   Rustic Sphinx (larva) coleoptera   carabidae   Pasimachus sp.   Ground Beetle hemiptera   coreidae   Unknown sp.   Coreid Bug (egg)    lygaeidae   Craspeduchus uhleri   Seed Bug    miridae   Engytatus modestus   Plant Bug (nymph)       Dichrooscytus sp. sp.   Plant Bug       Lopidea sp.   Plant Bug homoptera   monophlebidae   Icerya purchasi   Cottony Cushion Scale hymenoptera   apidae   Apis mellifera   Honey Bee    megachilidae   Megachile sp.   Leaf-cutter Bee    andrenidae   Andrena sp.   Mining Bee    formicidae   Solenopsis invicta   Imported Fire Ant diptera   syrphidae   Copestylum avidum   Flower Fly       Allograpta obliqua   Flower Fly       Eristalis sp.   Flower Fly       Palpada vinetorum   Flower Fly       Eupeodes americanus   Flower Fly       Helophilus sp.   Flower Fly    dolichopodidae   Condylostylus sp.   Long-legged Fly       Unknown sp.   Long-legged Fly    calliphoridae   Cynomya cadaverina   Bluebottle Fly       Lucilia sp.   Blow Fly    chironomidae   Unknown sp.   Midge    anthomyiidae   Unknown sp.   Root Maggot Fly odonata   libellulidae   Sympetrum corruptum   Variegated Meadowhawk orthoptera   acrididae   Trimerotropis pallidipennis   Pallid-winged Grasshopper mantodea   mantidae   Stagmomantis carolina   Carolina mantis (nymph) araneae   thomisidae   Mecaphesa sp.   Crab Spider