In a recent posting featuring my first Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) of the year, I lamented the scarcity of Monarchs this summer. A few days later, I was delighted to spot several more Monarchs during a visit to Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. The Monarchs moved about quite a bit and I ended up sweaty and out of breath after chasing them all over, but I was more than happy with the results.
The Monarchs concentrated most of their efforts on several patches of swamp milkweed at the edge of a small pond. I moved quickly as I tried to compose shots with both a good background and a photogenic wing position, which often was easier said than done.
In the first shot you get a view of some of the vegetation growing in the pond and the lighting from that angle really made the colors pop. The second shot gives you a wide view of the largest patch of swamp milkweed that the Monarch was sharing with some much smaller Pearl Crescent butterflies. I captured the final image in an adjacent field. The dominant green of the vegetation and the vertical lines of the stalks of the vegetation give this image a much different feel that the other two images. I think the three images work well together as a little collection.
I continue to remain hopeful that I will continue to see more Monarchs (and other butterflies too) as we move deeper into summer.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike in several of your posts you mentioned the adventure in seeking your subject for the photos. I was at first so sorry that you went to such herculean lengths for a photo. But, I finally caught on from this particular post that you rather consider the adventure as a delightful part of the whole process of the photo. Amazing and inspiring. Thank you 🦋🦋
Thanks, Suzette. You have figured me out. I really do enjoy the adventure–for me, walking around for four or five hours with a camera in my hand is my idea of a good time. The basic message in many of my posts is that there is amazing beauty to be found if you are willing to look for it. I started to get more serious about photography a bit over 8 years ago when I began my glide path towards retirement by cutting back on work to three days a week. Over time and as I have now moved to full retirement, my walks in nature have taken on greater importance for my physical and mental well-being (especially during the current pandemic). So, don’t worry about my “herculean” efforts–I am just a really curious, relatively energetic guy who is both persistent and patient. Most importantly, though, I take the photos and write the posts because I love doing so–money would not be enough to motivate to do what I do. 🙂
Thank you Mike for your wonderful reply. Your passion for nature and photography do shine through your posts. Happy adventuring! Cheers.🐦
Beautiful series of images Mike! Enjoyed seeing them!
Thanks, Reed. Monarchs are so beautiful that almost any photo I take of one is a winner in my book.
I love Monarchs greet photo
They are so pretty.
I put monarchs, Dan, in the same category as I place bald eagles–any shot of one is a good shot. 🙂
Beautiful work
Thanks, Louis.
I agree, that makes for a very nice triptych. The one in your first shot has apparently had a rather traumatic start, for as young as it likely is, as there’s a chunk torn out of its wing already.
Very nice series of images. The monarchs are nearly chiseled in appearance, no doubt the result of the colour contrast between the black, ochre and white. The wings are like stained glass windows.
Thanks, Chris. I too tend to think of stained glass windows whenever I see a Monarch butterflies, especially if they are backlit.
[…] Powell (whose blog features wonderful pictures of insects) recently asked if ‘common’ is appropriate in a name. I know what he means. And even […]