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I believe it is safe to say that butterfly season has begun. There are several beautiful monarchs flitting about the yard. I counted five in the yard but there were others in the neighboring yards. Giant swallowtails, zebra longwings, gulf fritillaries, and sulfurs have also been visiting. And of course, I released several Polydamas swallowtails that awoke from their winter slumber.
With that being said, now that it is March I have officially started collecting eggs and caterpillars to raise. I do believe it shall be a glorious summer of life and color.
I hope your day is splendid. Happy snapping.
Okay, flowers pretty much bloom here year round. Each flowering plant has it's favorite time of year. Lantana, the flower in this image will bloom year round but especially loves spring and fall. Gulf fritillaries, the butterfly in this image visits from early spring to late fall. I figure he's orange so it counts as an autumn image even though it looks like it could be a spring or summer image :)
Side note: Something weird and spring like... Lady B has started building a nest in the bluebird house. I know there is no way she is going to lay eggs at this time of year. So that's just weird. She and Mr. B have extra fancy colors at this time too.
Have a delightful day and happy snapping.
The zebras are picking up in numbers around here. I love watching them float about the yard. Most of the butterflies flit about or zip about but not these beauties. They can be quick, especially upon release from protective custody. But normally they simply look like they are floating.
I recently raised several in protective custody and they have begun to hatch. This one is a freshie that I released. The flower he landed on was simply his first landing after the first flight. He decided to stick around for a few minutes before taking another flight. The others took of quickly but floated back the next day.
Anytime I release butterflies that decide to stick around a bit, I either put them back in custody or I stay with them to try and make sure a predator doesn't get to them. That does not always work as seen in a previous image with a goldrim. But I do try!
This little zebra was right next to the walkway and really was ready to go so I stayed with him until he simply floated away.
Have a wonderful Wednesday and happy snapping.
I laid down on my sidewalk to shoot this Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly on the patio at Bill's Backyard Bird Blind.
It's lockdown still in my area, so I don't have many chances to take photos outdoors. I've been going through my photo library for shots I missed, like this one. The band-winged blue dragonlette (smaller than a dragonfly) was seen in Southern Florida.
These beauties have started gracing the garden over the past couple of weeks. They do not stay long they simply come and get a little nectar and move on.
Although I believe the host plant is out there, I have never seen a female lay an egg on it and have never found any of the caterpillars to raise. Perhaps I have the wrong kind of Magnolia.
Regardless, I do get to see them when they visit. When you are looking out the window it's easy to spot them. Even if they are all the way in the back of the yard sipping from the Pagoda blooms like this one was.
I don't normally chase butterflies, but when it comes to the ones that visit for only a short time, I can't help myself. So yes, I was chasing butterflies when I took this image.
I was unable to get a shot of the spicebush swallowtail that was visiting at the same time.
Enjoy your day and happy snapping.
The queens have started showing up once more. I have company so I have not had time to collect eggs but they seem to be doing well on their own. I keep looking for the viceroy to show up as well. Perhaps it's not their season yet. Everything has a season.
I hope that you have a glorious day, happy snapping.
Monarchs always look like they are having so much fun as they flit about the yard from flower to flower. The one on the flower is a female and the photo bomber is a male that is coming to say hello and see if she would like to go on a date. She had plenty of suitors and I did not stick around to see which fellow swept her off her wings. Rest assured, one of them did. Those male monarchs are real charmers.
I stop raising butterflies of all kinds during mid fall. I always worry that it will get too cold for them. However, there are still plenty in the yard for the moment. Although, I have not seen spicebush, goldrim, black or giant swallowtails for several weeks the monarchs, sulfurs, gulfs, zebras and skippers are plentiful. Tigers are still coming to visit. I have seen at least one each day for a short period of time. They don't hang out like the other butterflies.
Best wishes for a wonderful day. Happy snapping.
I am so excited that butterfly season is starting. Monarchs and sulfurs are here year-round, but the other varieties disappear through most of the winter months.
Yes, I know... It's still winter but here they come! This is not the first giant I have seen this year, but it is the first time I had the camera out with me while one was here. I should probably check the wild lime for eggs.
I was blessed to see a tiger swallowtail a couple of days ago. However, he quickly left the yard because there are six catbirds out there right now and they were all taking a turn trying to snap him up.
The catbirds ignore the monarchs, and I haven't seen them try and get a sulfur. I'm going to say they simply didn't see this giant swallowtail. All of the birds love to eat the giants especially the caterpillars.
Oh yeah, I saw a spicebush swallowtail yesterday as well. He didn't stick around for a photo, but it looks like the season is getting off to a great start.
Have a beautiful day and happy snapping.
Spectacular Allium umbel and a hard-working honeybee in quickly fading light of the sun late in the evening. Taken in Botanical Gardens, the Royal Victoria Park, Bath, BANES, U.K.
I love butterflies and it's impossible for me to resist taking images of them when I'm out with the camera.
This lovely male monarch was sipping nectar from one of the pentas in the yard the other day. I'm just going through photos for the first time in a little while.
I have a new hobby that takes a lot, lot, lot of time but it's very rewarding. I've been babysitting my grandson since his mother went back to work. Prior to that, I was going to my son and daughter-in-laws house to assist with cleaning and child care for a couple of hours a day. He was born December 29, 2018. He is a joy to care for. Other hobbies are taking a bit of a backseat to him so please forgive me if I am simply on and off of Flickr for a while. I will most certainly be checking out photos as time allows.
Have a super fantastic Monday. Happy snapping.
Photo taken in Ashridge forest, Hertfordshire...
Anyone help id this butterfly? British woodland in July, Speckled Wood maybe, though seemed to remember it was a bit orange in colour (though I am badly colour-blind so perhaps ignore my colour spotting)
One of 51 species of Mayfly in the UK. The Common Mayfly also known as the 'Green Drake Mayfly' sports 3 long tails. Found around unpolluted rivers and lakes from April to September Nymphs are present all year round, living under water and feeding on algea and plants. The adults are most prolific during May/June when they can emerge simultaneously in vast numbers to mate. Usually when May trees are in full flower hence the name. They have a very short life, only leaving the water and appearing as an adult in some species for just a few hours. During which its sole purpose is to display and mate. The females then returning to the water to lay her eggs before dying. The Males, having served their purpose mostly die away from the water.