Burleigh Murray State Park

Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County

Burleigh Murray State Park is a small and relatively recent addition to California's State Park system. Originally the site of a working ranch on the outskirts of Half Moon Bay, it is now known as one of the best locations for butterflies in the San Francisco Bay area. Featured species include Margined White, Two-banded Checkered-Skipper, and both Satyr and Oreas Commas.

Getting There

From Highways 101 or 280, take Highway 92 west towards Half Moon Bay. Where it ends at Highway 1, turn left (south). After 1.2 miles, turn left (east) onto Higgins-Purisima Road. 1.6 miles later, turn left into the small dirt parking lot.

When to Go

Burleigh Murray is at its best from March through June, but is worth visiting year-round on any suitably warm and calm day. This is less than three miles from the Pacific Ocean, and the weather here is notoriously unpredictable.

Other Wildlife

Interesting birds include MacGillivray's Warbler, Red-breasted Sapsucker (uncommon), Allen's Hummingbird, and Wrentit. Bobcat is regularly seen.

Species List

Abundance and months are conservative, restricted to confirmed records from this park.

Swallowtails

Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon): Rare — 3
Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus): Uncommon — 4–6, 8
Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon): Rare — 4–5, 7

Whites and Sulphurs

Margined [Mustard] White (Pieris [napi] marginalis): Common–Abundant — 2–7; Rare 9–10
The fall dates were noted by two separate observers in 2002. Dr. Jerry Powell has seen a similar third brood in some years in Marin.
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae): Uncommon — 2–3, 8–11
Sara Orangetip (Anthocharis sara): Common — 3–5
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme): Rare — 3, 9

Coppers, Hairstreaks, and Blues

Brown Elfin (Callophrys [Incisalia] augustinus): Uncommon — 3
Echo [Spring] Azure (Celastrina [ladon] echo): Abundant — 2–3; Common 6–7; 1 seen 12/18/2003
Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon): Uncommon–Common — 2/22, 5–8, 10–11/1

Brushfoots

Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla): Rare — 3/29
"Chalcedon" Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona chalcedona): Uncommon — 6–7
Field Crescent (Phyciodes pulchella): Abundant — 3/6, 3/29–11
Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta): Abundant — 2/22–4, 6–7, 9–11
Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus): Common — 1–12
Oreas Comma (Polygonia oreas): Uncommon — 2–3, 6, 9–11
California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica): Uncommon — 2–3
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa): Rare — 3
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis): Uncommon — 3, 7, 10–11
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui): Rare — 11/1/2003
West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella): Common — 3–5, 9–11
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta): Uncommon — 1, 3–11
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia): Common — 2–3, 5–7, 9–11
Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini): Common — 5–10
California Sister (Adelpha bredowii): Rare — 10/16/2003
"California" Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia california): Common — 3/29–7, 9–11
Monarch (Danaus plexippus): Uncommon — 3–4, 12

Skippers

Two-banded Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus ruralis): Uncommon–Common — 2/22–7
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus): Uncommon — 11
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris): Rare — 9–10
Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides): Abundant — 7, 9–11
Umber Skipper (Poanes melane): Uncommon — 6, 9–11