September 30, 2024 by Mike Powell
Last Wednesday I was thrilled to spot multiple Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) during a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the most Monarchs that I have seen at one time this entire season. I do not know if these are local Monarchs that are preparing to migrate southward or if they are migrating Monarchs that are stopping by to refuel their bodies as they continue on their journey.
In either case, the butterflies were really active, in almost constant motion as they moved about the the open thistle flowers. I was hoping to get multiple butterflies in a single shot, but was never able to capture more than two of them in any photo, as you can see in the first image below.
The final photo shows the kind of photo that I was trying to take, a sidewards view of the Monarch in action. If you look closely, you can even see the butterfly’s extended proboscis. I also love the wonderful contrast between the orange of the butterfly and the pink of the thistle flower.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Danaus plexippus, Monarch, monarch butterfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 2 Comments »
September 28, 2024 by Mike Powell
The Potomac River is affected by the tides and, as a result, the levels of water off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge are also affected. Some of the trails at the refuge run parallel to the water and when tidal levels are unusually high, those trails are sometimes flooded.
This past Wednesday I visited the refuge. We had had some rainstorms recently, but I did not anticipated that I would encounter so much water on the trails. There were signs at several locations that warned of potential flooding, but they have been there before when there has been little, if any, flooding.
This time, however, there was a significant amount of flooding. In some cases, there was standing water on the trail, but in other cases, as you can see in the second photo below, the waves were washing onto the trail. There was a lot of debris on the trail as well, complicating my passage. I thought the water might be ankle-deep, but in a number of places, it reached my lower calf.
I was wearing boots that were somewhat waterproof, though they were inundated when the water levels were higher than the top of the boots. Fortunately, only about a third of the length of the trail was covered with water, so I was able to make my way down the trail without having to turn back. Needless to say, I did not see too many birds or dragonflies as I sloshed my way through the water, but strangely enough it was pleasant to experience to see these familiar trails in a different way.
We were mostly spared from the effects of Hurricane Helene, but I suspect that the water levels are still high in the Potomac River today. We had a fair amount of rain the last couple of day, but the sun appears to be shining right now, possibly encouraging me to go out with my camera today, though usually I avoid doing so on the weekends when the wildlife refuge is more likely to be crowded.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Landscape, Nature, Photography | Tagged Canon 7D, flooded trails, high tide, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 1 Comment »
September 26, 2024 by Mike Powell
Several months ago, Great Blue Skimmer dragonflies (Libellula vibrans) were quite common at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. As we approach the end of September, though, they have now become an uncommon sight and those that I do spot are often survivors that show signs of advanced age.
Last week I spotted this female Great Blue Skimmer. This species is quite easy to identify, because both males and females have white faces. Younger females are yellow and brown in color, but those colors gradually get duller and darker with age. Interestingly enough, their eyes also change colors—younger females have eyes that are reddish brown over a dull green and as they get older their eyes often become blue, like those of the dragonfly in the photo below.
I could not help but notice that this dragonfly has some damage to her wings, a frequent sight as the dragonflies get older. Still, she was getting along pretty well, a testament to the resilience and determination of these senior citizens of the dragonfly world.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, female Great Blue Skimmer, Great Blue Skimmer, Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | Leave a Comment »
September 25, 2024 by Mike Powell
Last week I spotted this female Big Bluet damselfly (Enallagma durum) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, one of the few damselflies still around this late in the season. Big Bluets are primarily a coastal species in our area, which helped me to narrow down the possibilities when trying to identify the damselfly species. Generally female damselflies are tougher to identify than males, but I pretty confident that this one is a Big Bluet.
UPDATE: A sharp-eyed viewer pointed out to me that this is probably an immature male Big Bluet, not a female, based on a number of specific physical features. I think he’s right! It is not the first time that I have misidentified a damselfly and it almost certainly will not be the last time.
I love the way that the light green in the background matches the color of the damselfly’s body and makes for a really pleasing image.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, damselfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Big Bluet, Big Bluet damselfly, Canon 7D, Enallagma durum, female big bluet, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | Leave a Comment »
September 24, 2024 by Mike Powell
Last Thursday I captured my first shot of a Bald Eagle in a few months during a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I have spotted Bald Eagles several times this summer, but I did not see them from a distance, because of the foliage on the trees, and my first indication of their presence was when they were flying away from me.
There are still quite a few leaves on the trees, so I was startled when I flushed an eagle last week. I was fortunate, though, the eagle flew across my field of view and I was able to snap off a couple of shots before it disappeared from sight. This is a crop of the image that came out of my camera and I am pretty happy with the results, especially considering the fact that I had no time to make any adjustments to my camera before taking the shot.
I am still trying to focus primarily on insects, but know that before long I will be switching my focus to birds. However, as this photo shows, I will rarely pass up an opportunity to get a shot of a Bald Eagle, irrespective of the season.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Bald Eagle, bird in flight, Canon 7D, eagle in flight, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 7 Comments »
September 23, 2024 by Mike Powell
It is getting to be that time of the year when certain dragonfly species, like the Common Green Darner (Anax junius), begin to migrate southward. Most people are aware of the migration of Monarch butterflies, but are surprised to learn that some dragonflies also migrate.
The Science News website described this amazing migration in an on-line article, “At least three generations make up the annual migration of Common Green Darner dragonflies. The first generation emerges in the southern United States, Mexico and the Caribbean starting around February and flies north. There, those insects lay eggs and die, giving rise to second generation that migrates south until late October. (Some in that second generation don’t fly south until the next year, after overwintering as nymphs.) A third generation, hatched in the south, overwinters there before laying eggs that will start the entire process over again.”
Last week I spotted a formation of helicopters flying in formation overhead as I was searching for dragonflies at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. For a moment the helicopters, which look to be UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, reminded me of migratory dragonflies. Before long their loud engines disturbed my reverie and I realized that they were probably flying to Fort Belvoir, a nearby military base.
The image I captured of the helicopters may look like it was turned into black-and-white after the fact, but that was actually the way that it came out of the camera. I really like the stark, monochromatic feel of image that works well with the subject.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Anax junius, Black Hawk helicopter, Canon 7D, Common Green Darner, Common Green Darner dragonfly, dragonfly migration, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, UH-60, Woodbridge VA | 2 Comments »
September 21, 2024 by Mike Powell
I have seen quite a few Viceroy butterflies this summer, but have had real difficulties finding Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). I have repeatedly heard warnings about how their habitats are threatened and fears that they might soon become extinct.
I was therefore quite thrilled when I spotted this bright orange butterfly on Thursday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It seemed to be a bit larger that the Viceroys that I am used to seeing, so I chased after it, full of hope that it might be a Monarch. It landed for only a moment and I was able to capture this shot of the beautiful creature—it was indeed a Monarch butterfly.
The Monarch took off a few seconds later and flew out of sight. I stayed in place a bit longer, still filled with awe and wonder at the brief encounter, before I too moved on. It is amazing how much moments like this one lift my spirits.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Danaus plexippus, Monarch, monarch butterfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | Leave a Comment »
September 20, 2024 by Mike Powell
After searching diligently for the last few weeks, today yesterday I finally spotted a Fine-lined Emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora filosa) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In the past this species has appeared on the scene in early September and is quite uncommon in my area.
As you can see from the photos, Fine-lined Emeralds like to hang vertically when they are perched, unlike many of the familiar dragonflies that I see throughout the summer that perch horizontally. When I spotted this dragonfly initially, it was flying back and forth at about knee-height and I immediately suspected that it was my target species. I have been watching dragonflies for a number of years and can identify some species (or at least make a good basis) on the basis of their flight profile.
I first spotted this species in 2017 at this refuge and have searched for them every year since then. The last few years it has grown increasingly hard to find Fine-lined Emeralds, so I was really happy yesterday to see this one.
This was actually my second encounter of the day with the species. A bit earlier, I observed one flying, but lost it in the vegetation while tracking it. This one might possibly be the same dragonfly, though it was far enough away that it could be a second one. Later in the day in another part of the refuge I caught a glimpse of another one as it zoomed by me. I chased after it, but came up empty-handed.
I will probably return to the wildlife refuge early next week to see if I can find another Fine-lined Emerald or perhaps I will find a Blue-faced Meadowhawk or an Autumn Meadowhawk, two other autumn dragonfly species.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Fine-lined Emerald, Fine-lined Emerald dragonfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Somatochlora filosa, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | Leave a Comment »
September 19, 2024 by Mike Powell
As I have mentioned previously, I have real difficulties in identifying many of the dark swallowtails that I encounter. However, sometimes I get a perfect view of one and the task is vastly simplified.
Last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, for example, I spotted this Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio troilus) feeding on a blooming thistle plant. I could tell it was a Spicebush Swallowtail because its row of inner orange spots was interrupted by a swoosh of blue that looks a bit like the tail of a comet. Additionally, the position of the butterfly made for a beautiful composition of the image that I was able to capture.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Papilio troilus, Spicebush Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 7 Comments »
September 18, 2024 by Mike Powell
I had not seen a Swift Setwing dragonfly (Dythemis velox) in several weeks at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge and feared that they might be gone for the season. I was therefore thrilled when I spotted this one last Thursday. Most of the previous times when I have seen Swift Setwings, they have been perched with their wings pulled forward, but this one had its wings fully extended.
A bit later that same day, I spotted a Swift Setwing that appeared to be missing an entire wing, as you can see in the second photo below. I looked carefully at other shots of the same dragonfly and in a couple of them I can see at least a partial wing in that spot. It is interesting that I did not notice this problem with the wing while out in the field, and the dragonfly flew away without any issues whatsoever.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Dythemis velox, Fort Belvoir VA, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, male Swift Setwing, Swift Setwing, Swift Setwing dragonfly, Tamron 18-400mm | 1 Comment »
September 17, 2024 by Mike Powell
Recently I have featured numerous large, beautiful butterflies feeding on blooming plants, especially thistles. Today, I decided to turn the spotlight to the smaller, more nondescript butterflies, commonly referred to as skippers, that have been equally active and visible in recent weeks.
According to Wikipedia, there are more than 3500 species of skipper butterflies in the world and many of the species are visually similar in appearance. For that reason, I am especially cautious in trying to identify one of these small butterflies. Sometimes I will request assistance in identifying specimens in one of many Facebook groups to which I belong. I have learned the “secret” to getting a response—if I make a misidentification, some experts who might not help me with an identification will feel compelled to correct me.
I spotted the little beauty in the photo below last week while I was exploring a patch of flowers at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. It might be a Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius), but to me it looks a bit more like a Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon). Whatever the case, I like the way that I was able to capture the butterfly in action, sipping nectar with its proboscis fully extended.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, plants, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Fort Belvoir VA, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Peck's Skipper, Peck's Skipper butterfly, Poanes zabulon, Polites peckius, Tamron 18-400mm, Zabulon Skipper | 2 Comments »
September 16, 2024 by Mike Powell
Some dragonflies will look me straight in the eye, but others, like this male Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis), seem to prefer sidewards glances. I spotted this cute little dragonfly last Thursday at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. Blue Dasher dragonflies are among the first dragonflies to appear on the scene in the spring and among the last ones to disappear in the autumn.
The vegetation at this time of the year is always interesting, a combination of new growth and dried-out stems. I love both the colors and textures of the perch that this dragonfly had selected and the visible cobwebs add a nice touch of visual interest to the image.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Blue Dasher, Blue Dasher dragonfly, Canon 7D, Fort Belvoir VA, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, male Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis, Tamron 18-400mm | 3 Comments »
September 15, 2024 by Mike Powell
I spotted this spectacular Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly (Speyeria cybele) last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Although I usually have something to say about an image, in this case I will let it speak for itself. Suffice it to say that I love the wonderful combination of the pink of the flower and the orange of the butterfly. Wow!
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Great Spangled Fritillary, Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Speyeria cybele, Tamron 18-400mm, thistle, Woodbridge VA | 4 Comments »
September 13, 2024 by Mike Powell
We are definitely in a period of time when butterflies are everywhere, especially in the patches of thistles that are blooming now. Earlier in the week I spotted this beautiful male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge as he was feeding on a thistle. I was delighted to capture a shot when the butterfly had his wings fuly extended, showing off all the details of the wings.
In case you are curious, you can tell that the butterfly is a male because he lacks the band of blue spots along the hindwings that are found on the females of the species.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Papilio glaucus, Tamron 18-400mm, thistle, Woodbridge VA | 1 Comment »
September 12, 2024 by Mike Powell
On Monday I spotted these cool-looking black- and-red beetles at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I think that they are immature Florida Predatory Stink Bugs (Euthyrhynchus floridanus), a species considered to be beneficial, because its diet consists of many species of pest insects. The nymphs of this species go through five stages (instars) in their growth process and I believe these bugs are in one of the later stages of development.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Bugs, Insects, Nature, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Euthyrynchus floridanus, Florida Predatory Stink Bug, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 7 Comments »
September 11, 2024 by Mike Powell
The leaves are still on the trees, which makes it tough for me to spot perched birds, which is one the reasons why I focus on insects in the summer months. Nonetheless, I tend to scan the trees when I am out with my camera, hoping to spot a bird perched in the open.
On Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I spotted an unfamiliar shape through the foliage as I was hiking along one of the trails. As I moved a bit to the side to get a better view, I realized that it was a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). Now I know that herons will roost in the trees at night, but it is a little unusual for me to see on in a tree at midday. The bird appeared to be keeping an eye on something, almost like a sentinel, though I have no idea on what its attention was focused.
I moved slowly and stealthily to get a better shooting angle and eventually captured this image of the heron. As you can see in the photo, the heron was definitely alert and paying attention—it did not appear to be relaxing in the tree. Maybe the heron felt like the king of the world and was taking a moment to survey his realm.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 7D, Great Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron in a tree, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 1 Comment »
September 10, 2024 by Mike Powell
There has been a relatively recent resurgence of butterflies in my area. In the past week or so I have seen more butterflies than at any other time this summer. Several of the dark swallowtail butterflies, though, are similar in appearance and are hard to tell apart, especially when wing damage hides some of the features that I rely on for identification.
Last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I spotted this beautiful dark swallowtail as it was feeding on a thistle plant. I can’t tell for sure, but I think that it may be a Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio troilus). A chunk of the hind wing is missing, but otherwise the butterfly seems to be in good shape. It was moving around a lot on the thistle, but I was patient and eventually was able to capture a decent shot of this beautiful creature.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Papilio troilus, Spicebush Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 4 Comments »
September 9, 2024 by Mike Powell
How old does a dragonfly have to be to collect Social Security? OK, that’s a bit of a crazy question, but collecting Social Security is a sure sign that you are getting old. A couple of weeks ago, I received my first payment from the Social Security Administration, a sure sign that I am officially “old.” Last week I also stopped in a a Metro offices in Washington D.C. to sign up for a senior pass that allows me to ride Metro trains at a reduced rate—one of the few tangible benefits of becoming a senior.
Here in the United States, people are living longer than in the past and it is anticipated that the Social Security Administration will run out of money to pay full benefits in a decade or so of changes are not made. Politicians don’t want to deal with the issue and keep putting off coming up with a solution to the problem.
Comparatively speaking, dragonflies live uncomplicated lives. They hang on for as long as they can and then they die, hopefully after successfully procreating. Last week I spotted this elderly female Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula vibrans) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Her coloration was dark and faded and her wings were tattered, but she was still functioning. After spending a few quiet moments with her, I pushed onward, still lost in my thoughts about life and growing older.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, female Great Blue Skimmer, Great Blue Skimmer, Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly, Libellula vibrans, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 4 Comments »
September 8, 2024 by Mike Powell
I’ve noted several times recently the tattered butterflies that I tend to encounter at this time of the year. However, not all of the ones that I see have suffered wing damage. Some of them appear to have recently emerged and are in perfect condition, like these Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies (Papilio glaucus) that I spotted during a recent visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Papilio glaucus, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 6 Comments »
September 7, 2024 by Mike Powell
I love to see dragonflies with patterned wings and so I was delighted to spot this male Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula pulchella) on Tuesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The males of this species have a beautiful combination of brown and white patches on their wings.
I used to be confused about the name of the species, because there appear to be a total of twenty-two spots. To make things worse, this species is also known as the Ten-spot Skimmer. What? It apparently depends of how you count the spots. If you count only the brown spots that are present on both males and females, you get twelve spots, but if you count the white spots that are present on only the males, you get ten spots. Yikes! Who knew that math was so important in dragonfly identification. 🙂
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Libellula pulchella, male Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Ten-spotted Skimmer, Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly, Woodbridge VA | 3 Comments »
September 6, 2024 by Mike Powell
Earlier this summer Needham’s Skimmer dragonflies (Libellula needhami) were among the most common dragonflies that I would see at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The last month or so, however, their numbers have declined significantly and they are now quite hard to find. I was delighted, therefore, to photograph this slightly tattered female Needham’s Skimmer on Tuesday morning.
Our weather has cooled off this week, with early morning temperatures in the 50’s (10 degrees C) and daytime highs struggling to get to 80 degrees (27 degrees C). I looked at the 10-day weather forecast and see that temperatures are not predicted to hit the 90’s (33 degrees C). Now it would be premature to declare that summer is over and we may well have some hot days in store for us, but the seasons are definitely changing.
So I will continue to search for remaining dragonflies while again, hopeful that I will spot some of the autumn species, like the Autumn Meadowhawks and Blue-faced Meadowhawks that should be appearing soon. Personally, autumn is my favorite time of the year, with cool nights and warm, sunny days, but I am not yet ready to bid farewell to the summer.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, female Needham's Skimmer, Libellula needhami, Needham's Skimmer, Needham's Skimmer dragonfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 3 Comments »
September 5, 2024 by Mike Powell
On Tuesday I spotted a really cool-looking butterfly at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops). This species has distinctive reddish-orange markings across its hind and forewings. I don’t recall seeing this species very often, though I have included photographs of the butterflies in some blog postings in the past.
The Red-banded Hairstreak is quite small in size, with a wingspan of just over an inch (25 mm), so I had to focus very carefully on the butterfly to obtain a sharp image. I was pleasantly surprised by the results with my Tamron 18-400mm zoom lens that did a pretty good job in capturing a shot of such a small subject.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Calycopis cecrops, Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Red-banded Hairstreak, Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 8 Comments »
September 4, 2024 by Mike Powell
The countdown begins. Now that we are into September, the number of dragonfly species is beginning to drop and many of the remaining ones are looking a little tattered. They seem to adapt and compensate for their disabilities while moving, perhaps, a bit more slowly.
Yesterday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife I photographed a number of male Slaty Skimmer dragonflies (Libellula incesta). Their dark bodies and eyes make them pretty easy to identify. Some of them appeared to be in pretty good condition, like the one in the first photo, while others, like the one in the second photo, are showing the signs of a tough summer.
Aging in all species is inevitable. No matter how much we complain about it, we are fortunate if we are able to slow its effects—we cannot stop it. The 19th century French romantic poet Alphonse de Lamartine wrote about the passage of time in a famous poem called Le Lac (The Lake) that included these words:
“Just a few more moments, I ask — in vain, for time
Eludes me and takes flight.
I tell the night to pass more slowly, and dawn comes
To chase away the night.
“Then let us love! Then let us fill each fleeting hour
With joy and ecstasy!
Man does not have a port; time does not have a shore.
It passes, and so do we.”
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Alphonse de Lamartine, Canon 7D, Le Lac, Libellula incesta, male Slaty Skimmer, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Slaty Skimmer, Slaty Skimmer dragonfly, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 1 Comment »
September 3, 2024 by Mike Powell
During a recent visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge I spotted quite a few Red Admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta), a fairly common species where I live. When I did a little research on-line, I learned that, according to Wikipedia, Red Admirals, also known as Red Admirables, are found in temperate regions of North Africa, North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and island regions of Hawaii, and the Caribbean. Wow!
I remember in the past that I sometimes referred to this species as a “patriotic” butterfly, because it had red, white, and blue areas in its coloration. I was happy to capture this shot of a Red Admiral with its wings partially open, because it gives you an idea of the interior colors as well as the exterior colors of the butterfly. As you can see, the inside of the wings feature wide reddish-orange stripes.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Red Admiral, Red Admiral butterfly, Tamron 18-400mm, Vanessa atalanta, Woodbridge VA | Leave a Comment »
September 2, 2024 by Mike Powell
In those parts of the world that use a meteorological calendar, autumn arrived on the first day of September. The rest of us will have to wait until the 22nd of this month to mark the official changing of the season. As I have noted in some previous postings, I have already noted the decrease in several dragonfly species and the overall numbers of dragonflies will continue to drop during September.
It is also common for me to see butterflies with damaged wings at this time of the year. I marvel at the ability of butterflies to survive with a significant amount of damage to their wings. Last week I spotted this Common Buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia) during a visit to Huntley Meadows Park. The butterfly was missing the lower portions of both of its wings, but somehow was still able to fly.
I recall reading somewhere that the purpose of the large eyespots on the wings of butterflies is to fool predators into attacking those portions of their bodies, thereby protecting their more vulnerable body parts. I don’t know it that was the case with this butterfly, but it may well be the cause of the damage that it has sustained.
Autumn often fills me with a vague sense of melancholy and I acutely feel the passage of time. Some aspects of life inexorably will come to a close or enter a state of dormancy.
I try desperately to hold on to the summer, but a part of me knows that change is inevitable. Enjoy the remaining portions of the season.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 7D, Common Buckeye, Common Buckeye butterfly, Huntley Meadows Park, Tamron 18-400mm | 1 Comment »
September 1, 2024 by Mike Powell
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.
Posted in Butterflies, Flowers, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 7D, Great Spangled Fritillary, Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly, Huntley Meadows Park, Speyeria cybele, Tamron 18-400mm, thistle | Leave a Comment »
August 31, 2024 by Mike Powell
Earlier this week I watched a distant Great Egret (Ardea alba) as he stared at the waters at Huntley Meadows Park. Initially he was standing tall, but slowly the egret bent over, carefully balancing himself on a floating tree trunk. We both watched and waited until the moment came when he plunged his head into the water. I fired off some shots, wondering if the egret had caught a fish.
I can’t say for certain that the egret was unsuccessful, but it sure looks to me like there was no fish in his bill as he withdrew his head from the water. It appeared to me like the egret was fishing for tiny fish, because he did not plunge his head very deep into the water. After this attempt, the egret stood upright and relaxed for a few moments, before eventually resuming his efforts.
I moved on, wishing him the best of luck in his pursuit of his next fish, as I continued to hunt for dragonflies.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Ardea alba, Canon 7D, Great Egret, Huntley Meadows Park, Tamron 18-400mm | Leave a Comment »
August 30, 2024 by Mike Powell
There must be something irresistible about thistle flowers, because on Tuesday I encountered multiple clusters of thistles with butterflies feeding on them during a short visit to Huntley Meadows Park. Sometimes the butterflies seemed to be socially distancing themselves, but at other times they were feeding side by side with other butterflies, including those of different species.
Of course, butterflies do not remain still while feeding—they move about constantly as they change their positions and flap their wings, complicating my efforts to capture images of them. The first photo below is one of my favorites. It shows a dark morph female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) sharing a thistle flower with two Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies (Speyeria cybele). I love the contrast between the colors of these two species that together provide a foretaste of the autumn season that is almost upon us.
The second photo provides a closer view of the dark morph Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. The final photo is a shot of what I believe is another female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail that has a yellow coloration similar to that of a male, but has an additional band of blue spots along the hindwings. I think it is really cool that there are two different color variants of females—in many insect and bird species, the males have more color and variation and the females are drab by comparison.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 7D, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, Great Spangled Fritillary, Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly, Huntley Meadows Park, Papilio glaucus, Speyeria cybele, Tamron 18-400mm | 8 Comments »
August 28, 2024 by Mike Powell
I love to search for Monarch butterflies, but this year I have spotted only a few of them. I am more likely to spot the similar looking Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus), like this one that I photographed last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It paused for a moment as it perched high in the vegetation at the edge of the water of the bay and I captured the moment as the butterfly looked out on the watery expanse.
What was the butterfly thinking? I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be able to fly freely like a butterfly. Perhaps the butterfly was imaging what it would be like to swim like a fish.
We always are a little restless, wanting to be different from what we are. Maybe we should spend more time celebrating who we are in the present moment, a unique combination of strengths and weaknesses. As one of my brothers likes to say, “Be yourself—everyone else is already taken.”
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Limenitis archippus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Viceroy, Viceroy butterfly, Woodbridge VA | 2 Comments »
August 27, 2024 by Mike Powell
I chased this small orange butterfly around for quite a while before it finally landed. Only then was I able to determine that it was probably a Variegated Fritillary butterfly (Euptoieta claudia), a species that I do not see very often. I looked over my old blog postings and discovered that most of my sightings of this species have been late in the season—earlier in the season I tend to see the somewhat similar-looking Great Spangled Fritillary more often.
We have had a decent amount of rain recently, so there is still a lot of green in the vegetation that provides a nice contrast with the orange and brown tones of the butterfly. Those colors somehow remind me of the imminent arrival of the fall season. There is still a bit of the summer to enjoy, however, so I am not quite ready to jump ahead to the autumn—I prefer to live in the moment and celebrate what is in front of me in the present moments.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Euptoieta claudia, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Variegated Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary butterfly, Woodbridge VA | 4 Comments »
August 26, 2024 by Mike Powell
Last Friday I spotted this Black Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes) as it was feeding on a thistle plant at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I love the shape, color, and texture of these thistle plants. I was a little shocked to see the excellent condition of the butterfly this late in the season.
When I returned home I did a little research and found out that this butterfly has at least two broods each year, with the second one flying at least until the end of August. Sometimes there is a partial third brood. Perhaps the butterfly in the photo recently emerged.
The later broods will lay eggs and winter is spent in a chrysalis stage. In the springtime, the adults will emerge and the cycle will continue. Nature is amazing!
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged black swallowtail, black swallowtail butterfly, Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Papilio polyxenes, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 5 Comments »
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