Trip report butterflies along the Beeline Hwy 14 March by Ron Rutowski
Nine butterfliers headed up the Beeline Highway into the Mazatzal Mountains on Saturday, March 14, 2026. There were a few clouds but it was mostly sunny and warm. We stopped first at Round Valley (RV) and walked around in the mesquite bosque but spent quite a bit of time watching mud puddlers along the banks of Sycamore Creek. We observed 17 species at that location. The group then moved up to Upper Sunflower Valley (USV) walking from the gate down the Old Beeline Highway to the USFS work camp. This higher elevation site produced 11 species several of which were not seen at Round Valley. We identified a total of 21 species on the trip. It was a great day for spring butterflies and to refresh our identification skills for the coming year. Here is a list of what was seen and where.
Pipeline Swallowtail RV USV, Southern Dogface RV, Dainty Sulphur RV USV, Orange Sulphur RV USV, Checkered White RV, Sara Orange Tip USV, Marine Blue RV, Empress Leila RV, American Snout RV, Variegated Fritillary USV, Red Admiral RV, Buckeye RV USV, Sagebrush Checkerspot USV, Variable Checkerspot RV USV, Painted Lady RV USV, California Patch RV (pictured), Weidemeyer’s Admiral USV, Queen RV, Funeral Duskywing RV, Arizona Powdered Skipper RV, Common/White Checkered Skipper RV USV
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