Sometimes you really don’t expect things to happen. When they do, your jaw drops then you remember to go inside, grab your camera and get busy (even if you are a cat photographer not the David Attenborough of the wildlife camera lens!) I hope my post inspires you to grab your camera and try your own wildlife shots even if you are not a totally confident shutterbug yet.
We have Swan Plants in our garden. They are the only thing Monarch butterflies eat and the caterpillars chomp their way relentlessly through entire bushes in days! Having mature plants is proving to be a real help (ours are three seasons old now). We love seeing the Monarchs arrive but don’t usually see them leave, this time however…
I went out to collect the last of our carrot crop to add to supper and discovered three magnificent Monarch butterflies settled on the Comfrey plant. Wait? What? Then the penny dropped…
- These were our own cocoons that had been hiding under our garden shrub leaves for weeks
Above you can see two Monarch butterflies on our Comfrey plant. (Comfrey ‘tea’ is a good natural fertiliser). The leaves are rough and prickly and the caterpillars decided to spin their cocoons underneath some of the larger leaves. I spotted three, and a fourth chrysalis is still hiding under the handrail of our deck (!)
Yes, I bolted hastily inside. Yes, I got my camera. Yes, I managed some captures before the butterflies all dried out their wings and launched away into the air.
Our Blue Sky friend Ollie found a picture that shows male and female butterflies. This is so helpful!
Here is a top view of one Monarch slowly drying out and unfolding its wings bit by bit. You can see the white spots that rim its wings. These spots are also on its head and body which you can see in the last photograph. The pink flowers? They are on the Comfrey plant and these flowers are adored by local bees.
I was careful to stay back and use my Canon 1300D and my 55-250 mm zoom lens. I do not know how butterflies behave after hatching but I felt giving them space to dry and fly seemed a good idea.
I wanted to get a butterfly getting ready to launch on its first flight and I think I did OK. You see the trembling edges of the Monarch’s wing tips? It was gone a moment later skittering away on the strong breeze.
I am happier with this ‘take off’ capture than one of a butterfly in flight, because this was its first flight after hatching, I captured a real moment! Ready, Steady Zzzzip – gone. Below you can see the butterfly while it was still and you can see all the amazing black spots scattered along its wings and on its body.
Even though I am no wildlife photographer and I do not have any really expensive lenses, I managed some pretty cool shots. Done in a hurry, trying to keep calm (these were our ‘own’ butterflies grown in our own garden!) I managed clear captures of a magical moment.
These are spectacular photos, Marjorie! Beautiful butterflies you have captured. It’s like you could almost reach out and feel them! What a perfect post to welcome in spring! I agree, these are award-winning!
It was quite exciting Dorothy I must admit!
OMG!!! Marjorie, these are award-winning photos. Please make sure you enter them in a contest. They are all top-prize to me. Stunning! Getting such detail and so close a photo that isn’t blurred or pixeled is amazing! You are a next-level photographer! Kudos, and I say watch out to those other wildlife photogs, you just upped the game!
Thank you I am thrilled as I have not done ‘wildlife’ photography before!
Absolutely stunning photos, epic!!! And thanks for the info too, so interesting! Happy Sunday!
These pictures are OUTSTANDING🦋 Marjorie, Faye wants to know if a Swan stature also helps to attrack these beautiful butterflies🙈Extra Pawkisses for a wonderful day🐾😙💞
I will try to remember to answer by email.
Wow!!! These pictures are incredible, and the detail is fascinating. Like you say, they’re extra special because these butterflies literally were created in your garden. You’re so lucky to have captured these images.
Those are cool! Monarchs around here want the milkweed plants, is that the same as Swan Plant? Anyway, we do see them and their slightly smaller cousins the Gulf Fritillaries. Once in so often I’m able to catch a photo or two, but nothing quite like this.
It is yes. The only thing they will eat (which can cause problems sometimes!)
Those butterflies are absolutely gorgeous and your photos are stunning. Thanks for joining Angel Brian’s Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.
Brian’s Home ~ Forever
Wow, how wonderful to see nature doing it’s work, and then to be able to ‘catch’ it even! Bravo!!
Around here Monarchs need native milkweed. There are a lot fewer of them than in the past, sadly.
Amazing photos!