They're Back!

Such a delight to see the swallow-tails rioting amongst the azaleas!

 

More Butterflies

The patch of Black-Eyed Susans outside our greenhouse door had a host of small butterflies visiting. 

Fritillaries of some sort? I can't be sure.

I sat on the steps with my camera and as I was snapping away, a hummingbird grazed my shoulder, on her way to sip from a nasturtium blooming in the pot beside me.

Alas, I couldn't try for her picture--if I'd moved, she'd have darted away. But it was nice to hear her humming there beside me.

 

A Second Chance

As I was walking Bailey yesterday, once again I saw a Swallowtail on the bluebells. Once again, I did what I could with my phone (those pics are at the end.)  Then I took Bailey back in and got my camera.

Marvelous to say, the Swallowtail was still there. 

I

It wasn't the perfect early morning light of a few days ago--

But I'm happy for a second chance.

I think it's an irresistible combination.

And a couple of bees . . .

These below were with the phone-- in addition to the Yellow Swallowtail, there were a Spicebush Swallowtail and a Skipper, some bumblebees and some honeybees. The pic with the Skipper didn't come out, nor did the one with honeybees. But still...

 

Fall Flutterbys

 

Butterflies

 

Where Have All the Butterflies Gone?

There have been fewer butterflies this summer than I ever remember. Climate change? Insecticides? Loss of habitat?

I was thrilled, however, to see a Monarch--the only one I've sighted this season. Not a good photo--from the car with my phone-- but so happy at least to have seen it.

 

Which Is It?

This lovely visitor to my flowers set me wondering -- is this a Spicebush Swallowtail or a Black Swallowtail? 

                    Or are there two names for one butterfly?

Fortunately my friend Mr. Google was there, helpful as always.

There are, indeed, two different mostly black swallowtails. And they look an awful lot alike. The Spicebush is larger . . . but that's not a lot of help when there's no Black to compare it with.

Definitive indentification come from a look at the underwing -- Spice (Papilio troilus) has a 'comet' while Black (Papilio polyxenes) has an eye spot.

My pictures don't show the underwing as clearly as I'd like but I think I've identified my visitor. If you'd like to have a go at it, the information on the identifying marks is HERE.. 

And here's a closeup of the relevant area of the underwing. Alas, something has taken a bite out of the tip where the eye spot is (or is not) but isn't that a comet?

As is so often true in this life of ours, it's the little things that make a difference. . .

Sunday Scrapbook