Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association

Massachusetts Butterfly Club

Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association

2013 Schedule of Field Trips, Events and Meetings

Please call ahead to confirm dates, to get directions to meeting places and rain date plans,

and to let the leaders know to expect you.

Mar 23, Sat
5:30PM to
9:30PM / Spring meeting of the MA Butterfly Club at Broad Meadow Brook MAS at 414 Massasoit Rd in Worcester. Potluck Supper. Russ Hopping will present a program on butterflies at TTOR properties in Massachusetts. Members may share up to 20 favorite photos each from the past season. Contact Howard Hoople at (978) 475-7719 or .
Apr 6, Sat
10:30 AM / Mt. Tom State Reservation in the heart of the Connecticut River Valley. We will search for Mourning Cloaks, Eastern Commas and Compton Tortoiseshells. Meet at the Bray Lake parking lot. Use the Route 5 entrance North of Holyoke, opposite the SKI OUTLET. If there is inclement weather, we will try for Sun April 7. If postponement is needed, it will be announced on MassLep on Friday evening. Leader: Tom Gagnon. Contact him at (413) 584-6353 or .
Apr 13, Sat
11:00 AM to
2:00 PM / Sherborn Power Line at Fessenden Field, Sherborn, Ma. Open fields, a trail through the woods, and power line offer varied habitats and vegetation for good variety of spring butterflies including many Elfins. Meet in parking lot at Fessenden Field. Leader: Bob Bowker. Contact him at (617) 828-2460 or .
Rain date Sun April 14.
Apr 21, Sun
10:00 AM / Arlington’s Great Meadows. Henry’s and Brown Elfins. The walk will meet in the parking lot at Golden Living Center – Lexington, at 840 Emerson Gardens Road (off Maple Street) in East Lexington. The parking lot is on the right side of the facility, and drivers should park at the far end. Leader: Tom Whelan. Contact Tom at (781) 863-1880or .
Apr 24, Wed / Westover Airforce Base (participation limited to first 15 to register) in search of Frosted Elfins. As of this printing, this field trip has NOT been confirmed. Due to Security at the base, you must contact Tom Gagnon at (413)-584-6353 NO LATER than April 7th.Everyone that goes on this trip will have to provide ID information to the officers at the base. Meeting time and place will be determined later IF we get permission to do this trip. Leaders: Tom Gagnon and Harvey Allen. Contact Tom at (413) 584-6353 or .
May 11, Sat
10:00 AM / Weir Hill Reservation in North Andover. Visit the barrens with Russ Hopping from The Trustees of Reservations at Weir Hill for Frosted Elfins and other early species. Meet in parking area between American Legion beach and electrical substation on Pleasant Street in North Andover. Detailed directions will be posted. Leaders: Russ Hopping, Howard Hoople. Please register with Howard at (978) 475-7719 or . Rain date: Sun May 12.
May 17, Fri
10:30 AM / Dinosaur Footprints and Little Mt. Tom, Holyoke. Join Julie Richburg of Trustees of Reservations in exploring the Dinosaur Footprints property in Holyoke. From the Dinosaur Footprints property we will drive about 2 miles to explore Little Mt. Tom looking for Juniper Hairstreaks. We will meet on Route 5 NORTH of Holyoke at the Dinosaur Footprints parking lot. We will check out the footprints (VERY interesting and some of the best in the state and FREE). Then we drive to a parking area for Little Mt. Tom. Walking distance should be about 1 to 1 ½ miles. We will do a lot of tree-shaking looking for these hairstreaks. The last two years we have seen Peregrine Falcons on this trip. Bring lunch and water. Leaders: Julie Richburg and Tom Gagnon. Contact Tom at (413) 584-6353 or .
May 19, Sun
10:00 AM / Myles Standish Forest, Carver. Meet at Forest Headquarters. Possible extension to Ponkapoag Bog for Hessel’s Hairstreak. Leader: Tom Murray. Contact him at (978) 660-6351 or
May 22,Wed
10:30 AM / Tom’s Swamp in Petersham searching for Bog Elfin’s. Meet at the Petersham Town Common across from the General Store. Leader: Tom Gagnon at (413) 584-6353 or .
May 25, Sat
9:45 AM / Mt Greylock (Lanesborough) in search of EARLY HAIRSTREAK. Meet at the Mt. Greylock Visitors Center parking lot at 9:45 AM. Be prepared to walk 3 to 4 miles round trip mostly level. Bring lunch and water. Afterwards, IF time permits, we will try for Arctic Skippers in Windsor, Mass. Leader: Tom Gagnon. Contact Tom for directions at (413) 584-6353 or . Rain date: Sun May 26.
May 26, Sun
10:00 AM / Delaney Wildlife Management area, Stow, for Silvery Blues and other early species. Leader: Tom Murray. Contact him for directions at (978) 660-6351 or .
Jun 1, Sat
9:45 AM / Mt Greylock (Lanesborough) in search of EARLY HAIRSTREAK. Meet at the Mt. Greylock Visitors Center parking lot at 9:45 AM. Be prepared to walk 3 to 4 miles round trip mostly level. Bring lunch and water. Afterwards, IF time permits, we will try for Arctic Skippers in Windsor, Mass. Leader: Tom Gagnon. Contact Tom for directions at (413) 584-6353 or . Rain date: Sun June 2.
Jun 2, Sun
10:00 AM / Barneys Joy Grassland Walk, Dartmouth. A joint walk between the Paskamansett Bird Club and the Mass. Butterfly Club. Join us as we search for grassland birds and their winged counterparts, the butterflies. Meet at the Demarest Lloyd State Park entrance. Leader: Lauren Miller-Donnelly. Please register with Lauren at (508) 636-2437 or .
Jun 9, Sun
9:30 AM / Dauphainais Park, Grafton. A former gravel mining site that includes open fields, small pine barren and Blackstone River floodplain. Variety of spring butterflies, many skippers. Leader: Dolores Price. Call her for directions at (508) 839-2299.
Jun 11,Tue
11:00 AM / World’s End Butterfly Census. This 251 acres Trustees of the Reservations property offers 4 miles of walking paths through fields overlooking Hingham Harbor. (fee is waived for the day)Leader: Bob Bowker. Contact him at (617) 828-2460) or .
Jun 15, Sat
10:00 AM / Weir Hill Reservation in North Andover –Looking for Harris’ and Baltimore Checkerspots and other early wet meadow species. Poison Ivy is abundant and unavoidable, so dress accordingly! Meet at Stevens Street entrance –roadside parking. Leaders: Russ Hopping, Howard Hoople. Please register with Howard at (978)475-7719 or . Rain Date Sun June 16.
Jun 27, Thu
10:00 AM / Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary, Wales. Jen Ohop, Staff Naturalist of Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary, and Elise Barry will be doing a butterfly survey at the sanctuary grounds. Any census help is welcome. Norcross is on the line in Monson and Wales. For additional information about Norcross, call the Norcross office at (413) 267-4859. See this link for directions: . For those using a GPS in the car to get there, the address is 30 Peck Road, WALES. Leaders: Jen Ohop, Staff Naturalist of Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary, and Elise Barry. Contact Elise at (508) 795-1147 or .
Jun 28, Fri
10:30 AM / Bullitt Reservation in Ashfield. Join Julie Richburg ofTrustees of Reservations in exploring some of the 265 acres of this former old New England farm. The farmhouse is now open to the public as a showcasefor energy-efficient technologies that work for New England homeowners now. The Trustees property is a crucial link to almost 3,000 acres ofprotected lands. We will explore some of the many fields. Our target species here will be Baltimore Checkerspots. Restroom available. Leaders: Julie Richburg and Tom Gagnon. Contact Tom at (413) 584-6353 or .
DIRECTIONS: FROM POINTS SOUTH: From I-91, Exit 24, take Route 5 NORTH. After 1.1 miles, turn left onto Route 116 WEST and IF you are coming from the NORTH on Route 91 take Exit 25 and turnWest on Route 116. Drive WEST approx. 10 miles through Conwayand into Ashfield. Turn let onto Bullitt Road, proceed approx. 1 mile, (pavement turns to dirt) to driveway and white buildings on right where road turns sharply left. NOTE: DO NOT take the IMPASSIBLE North Poland Road to BullittRoad!
Jun 29, Sat
10:00 AM / Horn Pond Mountain, Woburn for hairstreaks, elfins and others on this wonderfully biologically diverse monadnock. Meet in parking lot behind New England Rehabilitation Hospital (near employee parking lot “B”) at 2 Rehabilitation Way in Woburn. Leader: Howard Hoople. Contact Howard at (978) 475-7719 or . Rain date: Sun June 30.
Jun 29,Sat
9:00 PM to
???? / Moth Night in Groton. Join ABNC president Dave Small and naturalist Lula Field as we travel to the home of naturalist Julie Lisk and photographer and naturalist Tom Murray at 63 Spencer Circle in Groton, MA for an evening of observing moths, beetles, caddisflies and other insects attracted to the lights. Bring your point and shoot digital (or other) camera and flashlight. Please RSVP: Julie Lisk at (978) 272-1151 or .
Jun 30, Sun
10:00 AM / Great Blue Hill in Canton is one of the most reliable spots for Oak Hairstreaks in the state and is great for other hairstreaks in general. Meet at the parking lot for the Trailside Museum on Route 138. Leader: Steve Moore. Contact him at (508) 393-9251 or .
Jul 5, Fri
10:00 AM / Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area in Northampton and Graves Farm-Williamsburg. Meet at the North Farms Road trailhead. Target species will be any Hairstreak and Dion Skippers. Bring lunch as well as the usual field preparations. (sunscreen, binoculars, etc) Leader: Bill Benner. Contact him at (413) 320-4422 or . No rain date.
Jul 14, Sun
9:00 AM / WestboroughWildlife Management Area. Meet at Tatnuck Bookstore on Lyman St in Westborough. Looking for Northern Pearly-eye, both browns, Mulberry Wing, etc. Morning walk. Leader: Barbara Volkle. Contact her at (508) 393-9251 or . Rain date: Sat July 20.
Jul 21, Sun
9:00 AM / Leicester. Birds and Butterflies with both the MBC and Forbush Bird Club. Meet in Leicester on the north side of Rt 56 overlooking the back side of Worcester airport. Leader: Dolores Price. Contact her at (508) 839-2299.
Jul 26, Fri
10:00 AM / Bartholomew’s Cobble in Sheffield. The Trustees of Reservations property in search of GIANT SWALLOWTAILS. Last year some club members set a “state record” for Giants at 41 species in one day. Let’s see IF we can raise that number even higher this year. Meet at the Cobble. Leader: Tom Gagnon (413) 584-6353 or .
Aug 1-3
Thurs-Sat / Springfield, Maine (approx. 60 mi. northeast of Bangor) Target butterfly is Clayton’s Copper, a subspecie of the Dorcas Copper. We will stay in Bangor the nights of the 1st and 2nd and visit Stephen King’s Bangor home, Sunkhaze NWR, and the Orono Bog Trail in Bangor. Please contact Steve Moore for details at 508-393-9251 or at .
Aug 10, Sat
10:00AM to
4:00 PM / 6th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival in Worcester. Enjoy educational fun for all ages at the Festival ($5 / person (ages 3 and above); $20 maximum per family) at Broad Meadow Brook at 414 Massasoit Road in Worcester, where butterflies fly free in their natural habitats. The day’s activities include naturalist-led walks, live caterpillars, butterfly art, face painting, children’s activities, butterfly garden tours and observation stations, butterfly plant sales, vendors, music, food, and much more. Come in costume and get a prize! Contact Martha Gach at (508) 753-6087 or . Rain date: Sun Aug 11.
Aug 11, Sun
10:00 AM / Mattapoisett, MAJoin us as we search for the LITTLE YELLOW Butterfly at Nasketucket Bay State Reserve in Mattapoisett. We will meet at the DCR parking lot at the split to Brandt Beach Road. Please contact Lauren Miller Donnelly at (508) 636-2437 or .
Aug 17, Sat
10:00 AM / Fannie Stebbins Refuge in Longmeadow and Forest Park in Springfield, searching for Hackberry and Tawny Emperors and Zabulon Skippers. Meet at Fannie Stebbins at the end of Bark Haul Road off Route 5 in Longmeadow. Later we will go for ICE CREAM and then on to Forest Park. Leaders: Karen Parker and Tom Gagnon. Contact Tom at (413) 584-6353 or . Rain date: Sun Aug 18.
Aug 31, Sat
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM / Sherborn Power Line, Sherborn. The setting here with its varied habitats is a favorite of Leonard’s Skippers and perhaps some other late season delights. Meet in the parking lot at Fessenden Field, Western Avenue, Sherborn. Steve Moore will be leading this trip and advises participants to wear water-proof shoes (or boots) and long pants as some low lying areas are wet and vegetation is thick and thorny in spots. Leader: Steve Moore. Contact him at (508) 393-9251 or .
Rain date: Sun Sept 1.
Sept 7, Sat
10:00 AM / Allen’s Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, Dartmouth. In conjunction with the Mass Audubon Society, help census butterflies for the 10th season across multiple habitat-types on this 593 acre Sanctuary. This Buzzards Bay location is a hotspot for late season emigrants and caterpillars, including new records for Fiery and Ocola Skippers in 2012. Meet at APWS Field Station, bring lunch or snacks. Leader: Lauren Miller-Donnelly. Contact her at (508) 636-2437 or . Rain date: Sun Sept 8.
Sept 7, Sat
10:00 AM / Northampton Community Gardens in Northampton. We will search for late and rare migrants. Later we will go to the Northampton West Meadows area. Meet at the Gardens. Leader: Tom Gagnon. For directions contact Tom at (413) 584-6353 or .
Sept 14, Sat
10:00 AM / Allen’s Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, Dartmouth. Continue the butterfly census begun on Sept 7. Meet at APWS Field Station, bring lunch or snacks. Leader: Lauren Miller-Donnelly. Contact her at (508) 636-2437 or . Rain date: Sun Sept 15.
Sept 15, Sun
10:00 AM / Sudbury River Valley. Chance for Bronze Copper and other late butterflies. Meet at the Cow Common Conservation Area parking lot on Rte. 27 in Wayland, adjacent to the Community Gardens. The parking lot is on Rte 27, on the west side about 1 mile north of the Rte 20 intersection. Leader: Greg Dysart. Contact him at (508) 572-0018 or .
Sept 21, Sat
10:00 AM / Appleton Farms, IpswichLooking for Silver-bordered Fritillary, Bronze Copper, and other wet meadow species. All levels welcome! This Trustees of Reservation property includes more than 500 acres of grassland habitat. Meet at the parking lot near the barn inside the main entrance. Be prepared to walk 3 to 4 miles roundtrip. Bring food and water. Waterproof footware is encouraged but not necessary: you can easily avoid wet areas if you wish. For any participants with a special interest in butterfly photography, club photographers will be on hand and will “focus” on offering tips on how to take good pictures of butterflies. Bring your camera! Leader:Howard Hoople. Contact Howard at (978) 475-7719 or . Rain date is Sun Sept 22.
Oct19, Sat
5:30 PM / FALL MEETING Broad Meadow Brook MAS, Worcester. Potluck dinner at 5:30 PM, followed by the evening program. Our featured speaker will be Sam Jaffe, whose caterpillar photography surely needs no introduction! Please bring a favorite dish to share, and join us for a festive evening celebrating the end of the 2013 butterfly season in Massachusetts! Contact Howard Hoople at (978) 475-7719 or .

BRING: Binoculars, hand lens, field guide(s), suntan/block lotion, water, hat, insect repellent, allergy medicines, snacks and/or lunch, pen/pencil & small pad for recording, cameras, comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes. Please do not bring nets or other equipmentwhich might be used to harm butterflies. Be preparedto have a really good time! All levels are welcome on all field trips!

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