I have been doing butterfly surveys for over ten years, often over my lunch break at work. This year I counted 24 species in the surveys. I also chase them and photograph them. I got photos of 35 species (all but one in Iowa) this year, and I compared the list to to the survey list.
Four species were surveyed but not photographed, so my total documented for the year was 39.
I don’t really keep a list like birders do. I think I saw a few other species that I did not document with one of the two methods.
Last year I spent four days in Texas and photographed about 50 species in that time, more than half of which were new to me.
Why do it? I am not sure–I guess it is just an obsession with me. One I am not likely to get over any time soon.
The roused bear 
We had pairs of yellow sulfurs flying in the garden today. A beautiful sight against the golden fall leaves. Did you have any damage from the fierce storms rolling across the country today? WG
No, that was a little bit east of us.