IMGP1113, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.
In the last week or so I have seen an occasional Monarch Butterfly around the yard. I’ve tried a time or two to get a photo but they would fly off before I could get close. Today I saw a couple fly by and got my camera. After a few minutes standing near the butterfly bush I saw six or eight flying around the bush and got a few shots after they became used to me being there.
IMGP9463, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.
A few days ago I took this shot of a butterfly I have not seen this summer. The bright colors of the butterfly and the flowers I think make a nice photo. [Edit on 9/14 - I uploaded this photo to another web site that I check from time to time and today received a note that it was selected as the Photo of the Week there.]
IMGP6375, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.
As summer nears an end we have seen an increase in the number of butterflies, especially swallowtails. This evening I saw two large swallowtails on the butterfly bush as I drove into our driveway. This shot is a crop from the original. If you click on the photo and view the original size print there you can see more detail as this one feeds on the flower. I also got several shots of a dragonfly that posed for a while on the antenna of the car.
IMGP5389, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.
I’ve seen these insects hovering in our butterfly bush lately. It is an odd creature resembling a bumblebee but it feeds like a hummingbird. I shot this photo using my DA* 50-135 with a fast shutter speed so I could see the wings (which are a blur when watching them live.) I also have photos of a female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on my Flickr page.
