I was delighted to spot this Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly (Speyeria cybele) feeding on a thistle flower during a recent visit to Huntley Meadows Park, a county-run wetland not far from where I live in Northern Virginia. I have not seen many of this species of butterfly this season, so I was happy to capture this artsy artsy shot of the Great Spangled Fritillary on the one open bloom of the thistle plant.
I love the way that they spiky unopened buds add visual interest to the image without drawing attention from the primary subject.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
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