It is now rare for me to spot an insect when I am walking about in nature with my camera. There is still a chance that I might spot a dragonfly—a few Autumn Meadowhawks are normally around in late November—or maybe a butterfly. I held off posting this image of a butterfly that I spotted a couple of weeks ago at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in the hope that I would continue to see more.
Now I accept the distinct possibility that this beautiful little Pearl Crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos) may be the last butterfly of the season for me. Fortunately there will be new photographic opportunities for me in the coming months as I turn my attention and my long telephoto zoom lens almost exclusively to birds.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
So beautiful, we don’t have him in Europe.
Very nice Mike! But Eagles will be more prevalent in the colder months! At least where I usually photograph them in Maryland!
Do you go to Conowingo Dam, Reed? Where I live in Northern Virginia, the population of eagles increases only a small amount in colder months.
I like your attitude, Mike, as there is a lot of life on earth and the different seasons have their special beauties. I sure have enjoyed exploring insects with you these past warm months, and this pearl crescent butterfly is so very beautiful. This photo with the white granite (?) stones offsets the butterfly’s intricate patterns.
Thanks, Jet. They place some new gravel on some of the trails at the wildlife refuge. The gravel pieces are large enough that they make walking a little uncomfortable. There is still lots to see when the weather turns cold. Most creatures do not have the luxury of migrating or hibernating, so they have to do the best they can to survive the harsher weather. As long as I dress properly, I can enjoy the cooler seasons as much as the warmer ones.
As we know, Mike, nature is not predictable as we would like to think.
I have learned that lesson multiple times, kenne. Birds and insects do not read the identification guides that I do and sometimes show up in places where they are not “supposed” to be or earlier or later than “normal.” 🙂
Beautiful photo! All of the butterflies near my home are long gone. 🙂🦋
Nice and a fairly pristine individual as well, Mike. A FB friend in Tennessee has been posting a series of “they’re still here” images of butterflies in his yard. I saw a moth the other night after a 60° day but that’s rare now.
That is SO beautiful, Mike! You take wonderful photos!
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Beautiful capture, Mike! It’s interesting that the leaf has similar colors as the butterfly.
I second that Ellen! also the radiating line pattern of the butterfly wings echoed in the radiating lines of the leaf. This is a rather special image Mike!
Thanks, Liz. Initially the butterfly landed on the bare gravel and I was absolutely thrilled when it flew away and landed next to the colorful lead.
I can imagine your excitement, what a moment!
Thanks, Ellen. The colors of the butterfly make in feel like it fit in well with the autumn landscape.
What a beauty
Thanks, Helen.