I haven’t seen any Monarch butterflies yet this season, but I did spot this similar-looking Viceroy butterfly last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Viceroy butterflies are generally much smaller than Monarchs, so I can often tell them apart from a distance. When I get closer though, the most obvious distinguishing feature is that Viceroys nave a thin black line across their hind wings that Monarchs do not have.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Beautiful Mike!
Very nice capture on the log, Mike!