As soon as I saw this butterfly through my window I rushed outside into the garden with the camera. It was not quite like the usual swallowtails. The body was larger and there is that bluish cast to the wings.
I never did get a good shot though. It never stopped beating its wings even when feeding. It kept coming back to these bright red anisacanthus flowers interspersed with long graceful flights. When I got back inside I tried to find it in my field guides. Could it be the Spicebush Swallowtail?
Comments (6)
Beautiful………it’s a swallowtail for sure……I have a neat pic of a black swallowtail but it doesn’t have the blue on the wing or the white spots on the body………I will send it via e-mail to compare…………
I have noticed that my patio is visited by the loveliest of butterflies…and lizards! The colors of both are so electrifying. I have seen purple lizards with a vibrant streak of silver running along their backs as if they were struck by lightening and orange butterflies with a virtual kalidescope of hues and tints.
Your butterfly reminds me of my lazy afternoons on the porch! Thanks for sharing.
That might not be the shot you wanted, but it’s a fantastic photo!
Judging from the position of the legs, it’s hovering like a hummingbird to feed…
An amazing shot.
How pretty, Bill. There certainly is no shortage of beautiful things in your garden.
I’m trying to picture the lizards orchidophile has described.
Leslie,
They are smaller than the garden variety green lizards. I have seen three of them. The sun really highlights the purple because they are extremely dark.By the time I grab the camera, they’ve run away.
-o
The movemet is fantastic - a beautiful photo!