Camera Critters #168

When I was back east, I was looking forward to imaging new critters.  I have shown some of them here in the past couple of weeks, so here's another.

I was walking along the road in front of my mother's place when an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail fluttered by and landed near a trashed soda can.  It spent a few minutes there, with me waiting for it to move off so I could get a more natural photo.

But before it flew off, never to be seen again, I did manage to get a few shots.  This is the best.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critter #66

The past year has been a good one for swallowtails in my yard. Late last year, I captured images of an Oregon Old World Swallowtail (see my CCM #56 post) visiting one of the many flower in the backyard. A couple of months ago, I was able to get images of a Twin-tailed Swallowtail. Both of those shots were lucky ones, as I had the camera in hand when they arrived. But I have also had a lot of missed opportunities. By the time I see them and get my camera, they are gone.

Then, a couple of days ago, I was walking through the backyard, when another swallowtail flew past me and landed on a nearby flower. I ran back to my apartment to get my camera and by the time I returned, the butterfly had moved to the Apple Tree. I was able to get a couple of shots off before it took to the wind and disappeared off in the distance. After checking the photo on the computer, I realized I had taken a photo of a Western Tiger Swallowtail...my first one. Since getting this photo, I've been hoping to see it return so I can improve on the photo with a wings open shot.

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Then Thursday, I was sitting on the bench under the Apple Tree enjoying my morning cup of coffee when I noticed a large, yellow butterfly heading my way. I grabbed my camera, which I had brought out with me just in case, and headed towards the bug. It then landed five feet from me on a flowering plant and opened its wings for a perfect image. Thinking it was the same critter as I photographed in the Apple Tree a couple of days earlier, I went back to the computer, uploaded the shots and discovered I had once again photographed, not the Western Tiger Swallowtail I was hoping for, but yet another Twin-tailed Swallowtail.

Twin-tailed Swallowtail

It's is still a good butterfly image, but not the wings open shot of the Western Tiger Swallowtail I was hoping for.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critters #56

Last August, I came home from a long safari in the dry canyon and was looking forward to a cold drink and hot shower. As I unlocked the door to my place, a voice in my head yelled, "Look!" I swiveled my head from side-to-side, wondering where the voice came from.

Then I heard the voice again. "To your right, look" This time I backed up and looked to my right. There, 30 feet away in flowers of a hanging plant was a large, fluttering white object. I switched my camera back on and walked over to the object.

It was an Oregon Old World Swallowtail, also known scientifically as, Papilio machaon oregonius. It was the first I had seen in such a way I could photograph it. And even though its wings were a bit worn, it was still a beautiful critter to shoot.

I hope you agree.




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