As of the end of 2011 I have seen 70 species; all species have been observed in the Ottawa-Gatineau area unless otherwise indicated. A photographic version of my life list has been posted in my butterfly gallery on Pbase.
Skippers
- Silver-spotted Skipper
- Northern Cloudywing
- Dreamy Duskywing
- Persius Duskywing (Alberta)
- Juvenal’s Duskywing
- Columbine Duskywing
- Carterocephalus mandan (Alberta)
- Arctic Skipper
- Least Skipper
- European Skipper
- Fiery Skipper (Presqu’ile PP)
- Leonard’s Skipper
- Peck’s Skipper
- Tawny-edged Skipper
- Crossline Skipper
- Long Dash Skipper
- Northern Broken-Dash
- Hobomok Skipper
Swallowtails
- Black Swallowtail
- Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Giant Swallowtail (Presqu’ile PP)
Whites and Sulphurs
- Mustard White
- Cabbage White
- Olympia Marble
- Clouded Sulphur
- Orange Sulphur
- Orange Sulphur
- Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur (Alberta)
- Christina Sulphur (Alberta)
Gossamer-winged Butterflies
- Harvester
- American Copper
- Bronze Copper
- Bog Copper
- Acadian Hairstreak
- Hickory Hairstreak
- Brown Elfin
- Hoary Elfin (MacGregor Point PP)
- Henry’s Elfin
- Eastern Pine Elfin
- Eastern Tailed Blue
- Spring Azure
- Summer Azure
- Silvery Blue
- Greenish Blue (Alberta)
- Northern Blue (Alberta)
Brush-footed Butterflies
- Great-spangled Fritillary
- Mormon Fritillary
- Aphrodite Fritillary
- Atlantis Fritillary
- Northwestern Fritillary (Alberta)
- Bog Fritillary
- Silver-bordered Fritillary
- Meadow Fritillary
- Silvery Checkerspot
- Pearl Crescent
- Northern Crescent
- Baltimore Checkerspot
- Question Mark
- Eastern Comma
- Satyr Comma
- Green Comma (Algonquin PP)
- Grey Comma
- Compton Tortoiseshell
- Mourning Cloak
- Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
- American Lady
- Painted Lady
- Red Admiral
- Common Buckeye
- White Admiral
- Viceroy
- Hackberry Emperor
- Balder’s Arctic (formerly Jutta Arctic)
- Northern Pearly Eye
- Eyed Brown
- Little Wood Satyr
- Common Ringlet
- Common Wood-nymph
- Monarch
The Pathless Wood 
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Wow, you have some species on your list that I’m quite envious over! Enjoyed looking through your gallery. So few people seem to keep butterfly lists…at least online, so when I find a fellow lister, I’m always happy.
Hi Sylvia,
Thanks for stopping by! Yes, I’m an avid lister, especially with birds, butterflies and odonates. I usually do trip lists, too, whenever I travel someplace new. It helps me keep track of everything I’ve seen, and hopefully helps other people searching for information on the wildlife that can be found in various parks, etc.
Cheers,
Gillian
Hi Gillian,
I’ve been following your blog, mainly to learn more about the local birds and dragonflies. But i know you have an interest in butterflies too. I saw a giant Swallowtail at Shirley’s bay today, and from searching the web feel like that is unusual? Is there an Ottawa group that would appreciate the info? Or are they more common than I think?!
Stunning either way. I have some okish photos, too fluttery for me!
Thanks, Amy
Hi Amy,
Thanks for reading! Giant Swallowtails are a relatively new species in Ottawa, so there probably isn’t much on the web about them. They are becoming more common, though they aren’t as abundant as some other species. Shirley’s Bay is one of the best places to see them as their host plant, Prickly Ash grows in the area. If you want to report them, you can sign up for eButterfly to report this sighting, though it is a database that works best if you report all your butterfly sightings from your outing. (I have to admit, I’ve gotten lazy about reporting butterflies since I started becoming interested in dragonflies!)
Cheers,
Gillian
Thank you Gillian. A real treat for me. I’m gradually getting into butterflies and dragonflies along with my first love birds. But as with all these interests, the more you look, the more you realize you have to learn! Managed to see a Virginia Rail and chick (lifer) too, a very productive day! Thanks again. I look forward to reading more of your posts in the future.
You’re welcome, Amy!
That’s so true – the more you go looking, the more you find, and the more you realize how much there is you don’t know (congrats on the Virginia Rail chick, they are so cute)!
I am still blogging away, just really behind on my posts and back-dating the ones I’m posting. So check back soon, I hope to have another dragonfly post up soon!