Of Butterflies and Birds (and flowers, too)

Nature and its flora and fauna are astoundingly amazing, and I have mad respect for its existence and preservation. And while I can oogle at Nat Geo, or a myriad of other online resources to see amazing nature photography, I love being behind the lens in capturing a growing collection of both the known and new animals and plants who’ve stood (well…. crouched, flown, crawled, swayed, hopped,  etc) before me.

I try to spend at least once a week out and about, both to polish up my hobby skills, and to continue to get to know my new camera and big ol’ zoom lens. But even more so, because it certainly is a great way to decompress and sooth body/mind/soul. I value that above all.

Yesterday morning October rolled in, a brisk 48 degrees as I headed to one of my fav local gardens… First up: Monarch Butterflies! All the ones I saw today (and any that you all see, if you live west of the Rocky Mountains), will migrate to Mexico and overwinter/ hibernate in Oyamel Fir trees! The monarch is the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration as birds do, traveling up to 3,000 miles to get to their winter home. And of course, they are an invaluable pollinator. Super cool and beautiful insect!

Monarch Butterfly (male)

Globe Amaranth “Fireworks”

Monarch (female) on pink Dahlia

Pink Anemone

Painted Lady Butterfly on Ageratum

Monarch Butterfly (male) on Collarette Dahlia

Purple Mexican Bush Sage

Monarch Butterfly (female) on Collarette Dahlia

Monarch Butterfly (male)

While the east coast finds itself home year round to many normally migratory birds who live further inland, I still never really know if a bird like the Grey Catbird is that year-rounder. Here in the Philadelphia area, we are sketchy as being considered fully part of that coastal population. Alas, I’ve not seen the Catbirds around my home, but did in fact see several on this visit. They are berry eaters, and the tree I discovered them eating from (still need to determine the variety!) allowed me some nice shots.

Gray Catbirds are relatives of mockingbirds, and can copy the sounds of other species and string them together to make their own song. Incredibly cool, you catbird you!

I’d not meant to backlight it. But, sometimes the blunders turn out nicely

Eyeing a berry…

Acrobatics to grab it!

Last up, the Blue-headed Vireo, a small cheeky songbird – also migrating thru on its way to the Gulf coast or Mexico.

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