Black Butterfly - Part 3

I believe this might be the 'Spicebush Swallowtail' butterfly. It looks very similar to the 'Pipevine Swallowtail' or the black version of the 'Yellow Tiger Swallowtail.' Mother Nature loves to fool us!

The angles below shows the butterfly 'mid-flight' - as it's landing on the clover - and then as it's perched. Be sure to double-click on the images to see them full size.

Butterfly - Part 2

In keeping with the "Lepidoptera" theme of a few days ago, I am posting a few images of some pretty, buttery yellow tiger swallowtail butterflies that we saw up on the Ryan Road hiking trails. The one above really enjoyed the pink clover. If you look closely at the photo of his fluttery friend below, you'll notice the poor guy's wing looks like it has seen a little rough action, but he still seemed to get around fine.

It's amazing how, at first glance they all sort of look alike, yet if you compare them closely, you can see lots of differences.

Lepidoptera

...meaning butterflies and moths! Of which there have been plenty to see this summer. These tiny little orange butterflies were congregating around some marsh flowers at Simmons Woods a few days ago.

This furry moth (below) was resting in the sun at the Ryan Rd. trail. I love his feathery little pantaloons!

Monarch

A monarch butterfly rests on the edge of the wrought iron shepherd's hook holding our hummingbird feeder. I had to rotate this photo to get a better angle, hence the gravity-defying sideways wire which is holding the feeder.

Butterfly!

I rode my bicycle briefly this weekend. The weather was finally warm enough to do so for the first time this year - sunny and in the 60s. Afterwards, when I went to shut the garage door, I saw this little guy on my handle bars. A "Red Admiral" - first of the season!