It was wonderful to see so many butterflies still active last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, including this spectacular Common Buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia). This butterfly was so feverishly feeding on these flowers that it scarcely seemed aware of my presence, which made it possible to capture shots of this magical creature from various angles. The challenge for me was to time those shots to capture the spectacular colors and patterns of the butterfly when its wings were fully opened.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Thanks Mike, it is wonderful to see butterflies at this time of year. Cheers.
What a beautiful butterfly! I still haven’t seen any here in Minnesota yet. Someday maybe.