Butterflies to Flutter by

Okay, I am waaaaaaaaaayyyy overdue for a new post! I've found a new addiction in photographing the butterflies that have been coming around here. It's been too hot to take our drives, so I look for things around home to photograph (so I don't have withdrawals;-). I still have plenty of photos from past drives to share, but this time, it's all about the butterflies! These are photos from both where we live, and some taken at Sequoia National Park in the past (ones that I haven't shared anywhere before).

"Mosey Along Now" - One of my all-time favorite sightings was this Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) at Sequoia National Park. This was the first and only Monarch sighting since returning to California. This beauty flew back and forth multiple times, allowing me to take a lot of photos. I have a couple here in my shop, but hadn't edited this one before now.

"Tiny But Tough" - This little cutie is the one that the Monarch is trying to get to move. Not happening! S/he might be small, but was determined to stay. I believe this is an Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly (Everes comyntas). If it's not, please let me know:-)

"Somber" - This is another Sequoia shot. I believe this a a Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis), but I'm not positive. I looked at a lot of different photos trying to be sure. The markings seem a little different on the top wings, but overall it appears to be a match...

"Inside and Out" - A California Sister Butterfly (Adelpha californica), taken at Sequoia. This butterfly's wings are equally beautiful inside and out:-)

"A Bright Spot" - The butterflies at Sequoia love the granite and the little pools of water that form in this one area. I believe this is a Large White Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum). Almost looks like s/he's part of the rocks!

"Hidden Gold" - A lucky sighting! I was tracking this little beauty when s/he landed on the blade of grass. It may have been meant for camouflage, but wound up being the perfect backdrop:-) I think this is a Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides), taken at Sequoia.

"Hold Tight" - A Common Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia) with a very tight grip on some yellow lantana. We've been having a few of these show up - they seem to like yellow flowers best. I want to get a shot of the wings open, because they're so beautiful. In the meantime, I was happy to discover a new visitor to our plants:-)

"Sunny Delight" - Of course, I couldn't resist adding another photo of a West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella). This is one taken here at home on the Verbena canadensis 'Homestead Purple' that so kindly jumped out of its pot into the ground and spread like crazy:-) Butterflies love it!

"How's the World Look Upside Down?" - The very common but still pretty Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae) taking in a different view;-) This photo was taken at Lowes. Going to their garden center is a great way to get a flower fix - this center always has a great selection of plants to photograph. I'm sure people think it's a bit odd to be going there around with a camera, but it's so enjoyable that I just lose myself in the flowers:-)

"Pretty as a Picture" - Last, but not least, is another Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon). These beauties have been coming by here every day, and I've been taking tons of photos.

I hope you've enjoyed this butterfly journey. To me, butterflies are one of the most challenging photographic subjects, which is why I've become addicted to shooting them - practice makes perfect, right? I delete far more photos than I keep, and get so excited when I get a good one:-) If any of the id's are incorrect, please let me know. I'd also love to know which photo here is your favorite, and what butterflies grace your part of the world. It's so exciting to learn and see new species!

A Journey through Autumn

Now that the weather's cooler, we've started taking our drives again, yay! It truly is the one thing we’ve come to love doing here. While central California may not get fall colors quite as abundantly as other areas, we do get some color and it’s beautiful! As well, there are lots of other little surprises we find on our drives. I thought I’d share a collection of recent images, and take you along on a drive with us. Fasten your seatbelts!

"The Heart of Autumn", taken on a recent trip to Sequoia National Park. Just a little color to get us started...

"Tattered", a California Sister Butterfly, also taken at Sequoia National Park. The bottom wings are tattered and torn, but this little butterfly kept on going:-)

"Walk this Way", Okay, I’m a big chicken when it comes to spiders, but I do find tarantulas fascinating. We also like to get them out of the middle of the road when it’s safe for us to do so. Actually, I make my mom do that part, lol! 40 years old, and I still want my mommy when it comes to spiders;-) Hey, I actually did kneel down in the road, and let this guy get pretty close so I could get this shot – very cool creature!

"From a Distance", American Goldfinch, taken up in the foothills. I was actually walking on the road after photographing the tarantula, because I'd been seeing a lot of birds in the oak trees. I saw this little gem, and got as close as I could. This is it, right before he left, and is as good as my 55-250mm IS lens could do – not too bad considering I was still a ways away.

"Ready, Set, Go!", This bluebird was the bird I was really trying to get closer when I spotted the Goldfinch in the last photo. I did a little better with this beauty, but you can see he was seconds away from leaving. There have been so many bluebirds up in the hills – just gorgeous!

"Waiter, there’s a fly…", Actually, I only wanted the leaves, but the fly landed, and made it more interesting, I think. This was also taken at Sequoia National Park.

"Nutty", Woodpeckers are one of the wiliest birds! Every time I think I’m going to catch one, he or she flies off the very second I’m ready to photograph. So, I was completely shocked that this one stayed, and I was able to snap some shots literally right out the car window. Granted, the bird was on the wrong side of the road for me, in the shade facing the sun, but I’m not going to complain. I’m just happy to have gotten this! In case you couldn’t guess, this is an Acorn Woodpecker;-)

This handsome roadrunner out in a fenced field was another bird on the wrong side of the road and light, and too far away. However, I couldn’t resist taking photos - they’re really fascinating birds! I almost had one in this next shot, except…

This roadrunner was also inside of the fence, and I was maneuvering to get him (as he was maneuvering to get away, lol!). As you can see, though, there was grass in front, and it wound up going across his body and blurring it. Also, his tail got chopped off. But, hey, at least I got a little catchlight in his eye, and closer than the last photo:-)

Some more beautiful leaves from our trip to Sequoia. I haven’t been able to come up with a title I like for this one – any suggestions?

A Red-shouldered Hawk, taken yesterday (11/24/09)!!! We were running errands, saw some pretty trees, went back to get my camera, and after shooting leaf photos, found this beauty! I was able to walk up pretty close, and get several shots – closest I’ve gotten to a hawk in the wild:-)

"California Gold", in closing, here are some fruit tree leaves from yesterday, too. Agriculture really is gold to this part of California, but one can only wonder what the ultimate price will be. That’s a post for another day;-)

In the meantime, I hope you’ve enjoyed this little journey through fall. This is one of my favorite times of the year, and I’m blessed to have my camera to record it. All photos taken with a Canon Digital Rebel XT, and the 55-250mm IS lens.

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans!