Observation date: April 24, 2026
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Weather fair with a breeze out of the NW. Location in my garden and neighborhood approximately 4 miles east of Portland International Airport in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. I went for a walk of about a mile starting at my house and walking west to Wilkes Creek Headwaters Natural Area, around a grassy area with wildflowers and dandelions and back to my house. I found nine Painted Lady's: three in the park nectaring on dandelions, two in the neighborhood nectaring on Photina bush, and four in my garden nectaring on Pieris japonica, Wallflower 'superbowl' (erysimum), and Forget-me-nots. One of the garden butterflies, after nectaring for at least a half hour flew to a sunny, bare patch of ground near the nectar source, folded its wings and rested proboscis retracted. I watched it for another 15 minutes just resting on the ground until I needed to go back in the house. One other thing. I looked for butterflies on 4/25/2026 (the next day) and none were to be found.
Status: Migrant
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: April 26, 2026
Coordinator notes: None.
