Northland Nature: Red admiral butterflies common migrants to area

May 24—As we work our way through this marvelous month of May, it is hard to not notice nature happenings. Recent rains mixed with days of sunlight have brought dozens of spring wildflowers in bloom.

Early ones that thrive in the available sunlight on the forest floor may be waning now, but they are quickly replaced by the next batch: those that can tolerate the shade. We will continue to see these forest wildflowers for a couple weeks. Also, the forest floor erupts with new growths of ferns. No flowers for them, as they open fiddleheads — new leaves (fronds) that unroll from underground stems (rhizomes).

The trees also get into the flowering mode and their blossoms fill the branches during these spring weeks. Starting with the small trees of plum, cherry, juneberry and elder, they are soon joined by apples, mountain ashes and lilacs.

Trees are leafing, too, and during this amazing month, the forest begins devoid of green foliage but emerges with a rich-green growth. Many of the large trees, oaks, maples and basswoods, are some of the last ones to leaf.

As we look at these foliating forest trees, we often see the movements of birds, another feature of May. Many of these are migrants and they grace the woods with their beautiful plumage and song. Now we can see orioles, grosbeaks, tanagers, thrushes, hummingbirds, vireos and perhaps a dozen or more warblers.

In the wetlands, the early spring trio of calling frogs — wood frogs, chorus frogs and spring peepers — are being added to and may be replaced by the next three spring anurans: leopard frogs, gray treefrogs and toads. Some call for weeks; others, such as toads, just days. Turtles will soon be coming ashore to lay eggs. But let's not forget the abundant insects.

May is well-known as the time we note the presence of black flies and mosquitoes. But taking a closer look, we see much more. Beginning with green darners, dragonflies are dispersing from their water youth to do their predator patrols. Bees are active as they begin their new homes.

And there are the butterflies. These colorful insects have been with us for more than a month by this time. Beginning with a few types, the anglewings, that hibernate as adults, we may see them basking in sunlight. Members of this group include mourning cloaks, commas and tortoiseshells.

By the time we get to May, another group has arrived. An interesting, but tiny one, is the spring azure. With a wingspan of only an inch, they may be hard to see. Wings are blue above and white below. They are the first butterflies in the Northland to emerge from winter as a chrysalis.

Recently, I have also noticed a couple others: painted ladies and red admirals. Painted ladies (two kinds) are small, orange and black. Red admirals have dark wings with white spots in the anterior parts and red bands crossing the fore and hind wings. Wingspan is about 2 inches.

All are migrants. After wintering in the southern states, they return now. Upon coming back, they frequently bask or take moisture and minerals on the ground. They also will visit available flowers for nectar, which abounds in May.

Red admirals are often seen later in the season as well and in some years they are abundant. Caterpillars will feed on nettles. They are present every May but seem to be more common this year, maybe due to the mild winter. They set the pace for more butterflies to come.