Late October butterflies

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Late October butterflies

November 1, 2021 by Mike Powell

I am shocked and delighted by the number of butterflies that I continue to see at the end of October, despite the cooling temperatures and decreasing number of hours of daylight. Last Thursday, 28 October, I spotted a Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and multiple Variegated Fritillaries (Euptoieta claudia) and Common Buckeyes (Junonia coenia).

The dominant browns and oranges in the color palette of these butterflies seems to be a perfect reflection of the autumn season, when the colors in nature seem more muted than they were during the spring and the summer. For me, though, there is an inner warmth and comfort in these colors, like the feel of a well-worn flannel shirt or the taste of an autumn soup.

Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Common Buckeye, Danaus plexippus, Euptoieta claudia, Junonia coenia, Monarch, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 180mm, Variegated Fritillary, Woodbridge VA | 5 Comments

5 Responses

on November 1, 2021 at 5:52 am | Reply Patricia M Osborne

They are all so beautiful. Thank you for sharing, Mike. x
on November 1, 2021 at 5:54 am | Reply Mike Powell

Thanks so much for your comments, Tricia, which invariably are positive and uplifting. I really appreciate all of your support and encouragement.
on November 1, 2021 at 8:53 am | Reply Mitzy Bricker

Gorgeous captures, Mike!

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on November 1, 2021 at 10:59 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Nice post Mike! Great images! Enjoyed seeing them! Here in NJ, I have not seen any butterflies for quite a while!
on November 2, 2021 at 9:04 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Beautiful sightings, Mike. Glad to see the monarch, esp.