Swallowtail and Joe Pye

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Swallowtail and Joe Pye

August 18, 2020 by Mike Powell

I love butterflies and am thrilled that I am finally beginning to see them more regularly after a slow start to this season. I spotted this beautiful female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) last week at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge perched high in a patch of what looks like Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum).

Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, Eutrochium purpureum, female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Fort Belvoir VA, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Joe-Pye weed, Papilio glaucus, Tamron 180mm | 13 Comments

13 Responses

on August 18, 2020 at 6:42 am | Reply krikitarts

Though I haven’t seen an Eastern Swallowtail since I retired from my job in DC, Joe Pye flourishes along my favorite trout stream near our cabin. and it’s great to see some again. That’s a beautiful shot of both of them.
- on August 18, 2020 at 7:29 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Gary. It’s nice to see old friends, albeit virtually. You are undoubtedly missing that cabin desperately this month.
  - on August 18, 2020 at 8:20 pm krikitarts
    
    I freely admit that I am, but being here year-round for the first time definitely has its advantages with all the immediate family interactions and being able to watch the grands grow by the day. We’re fervently hoping for a lot more sanity out there in the very near future, however.
on August 18, 2020 at 9:43 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Very nice Mike! Always fun to photograph butterflies!
on August 18, 2020 at 12:04 pm | Reply mitzybricker

Beautiful capture, Mike. 😀

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on August 18, 2020 at 7:25 pm | Reply Ms. Liz

I’m GREEN with envy that you get all these butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies! Lovely photo. Swallowtail butterflies in their various guises look amazing to me 🙂
on August 18, 2020 at 8:26 pm | Reply pattyanneart

Beautiful, Mike!
- on August 19, 2020 at 5:45 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Patty Anne.
on August 18, 2020 at 9:49 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Such beauty – well captured!
- on August 19, 2020 at 5:45 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Eliza.
on August 19, 2020 at 11:55 am | Reply dianaed14

A good opportunity to see the colours in close
on August 20, 2020 at 5:15 am | Reply Steve Gingold

I’d be thrilled with this one too, Mike. Very nice!
- on August 20, 2020 at 6:22 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Steve. Somehow it seems a little easier to get a good composition when the subject is slightly above eye level.