Tuesday 31 March 2009

Butterflies.......

I have waited seven years to capture this little butterfly with my camera. The orange tip does not dally. The dappled green coloration of the underside provides perfect camouflage when the butterfly settles on a plant.
Each butterfly lives for around 18 days and there is only one generation a year. Only the male has orange tips on the wings.......the female is tipped with black.....

I was so hoping that this would be a male. I sat as still as I could...one false move and this little chap would be gone.....


I really wanted to capture him with his wings fully open.........
today I was lucky.......there he is in all his glory......the orange tip.......a colourful symbol of springtime........

34 comments:

Cyndee Greene said...

I have never seen such an incredible butterfly. Wow!
Cheryl, you are always inspiring...now back to my garage & Craigslist :) Raising money.

beckie said...

Hooray!! See good things do come to those who wait. :) Such an unusual butterfly. I don't think I have ever seen one with such different colorations on top and under it's wings. What a glorious creature he is. I am so happy , happy for you. And thanks for sharing it with us!

Liz said...

Beautiful photos Cheryl, fantastic that you managed to catch it!

We had some last year and I never did manage it, hopefully this year though...

We also had a blue butterfly, no idea which type as there was even less chance of catching that than the orange tip, at least with the latter I came close on a number of occasions!

Cheryl said...

Thank you Cyndee....he is an incredible butterfly.....

Cheryl said...

Dear Beckie....Believe me this was a dream come true....I have waited for such a long time to capture this little fellow....and at last I did.
Thank you for being happy for me....I am happy to share it with you all......

Cheryl said...

Hi Liz....I have managed to capture the common blue and the holly blue on camera and posted them last year.....but the orange tip has always been difficult. I find they never stay still for very long, and the slightest movement spooks them. They say everything comes to those who wait.....Hooray......

Lisa at Greenbow said...

When he opened those wings and I saw those orange tips I could feel your excitement. Congratulations Cheryl. What fun, what fun.

Gail said...

Oh Cheryl, That was the most wonderful butterfly and post...so glad i stopped by to say hello and take a few deep breaths. I know you must be thrilled...7 years is a long time to wait but a wildlife gardener's patience is remarkable. Gail

ShySongbird said...

Congratulations Cheryl, beautiful photos. I think wildlife photography is definitely all about patience, but just think of all that daydreaming we can do while we are waiting!

Ruth said...

What a beautiful butterfly, even on its less colourful side. Great photos!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Wow, what a beautiful butterfly--so colorful and yet so handily camouflaged. And don't you just love how insects are "fuzzy" up close?

marmee said...

this little guy was worth the wait cheryl. he is so beautifully camouflaged, i love the way that looks. i am so happy you were able to capture the opened winged male. is the name of this beauty, orange tip?
ps loved the little handmade cards in previous post, how sweet and personal.
happiest first of april to you.

Cheryl said...

Hi Lisa...thank you Lisa.....I was thrilled to capture him.....his photograph can now go in my year book......

Cheryl said...

Dear Gail.....with time I have learnt to be patient....I think it comes with older age.....
Orange tip was worth the wait....such a joy.....

Cheryl said...

Hi ShySongbird.....that is a good point....daydreaming is a wonderful pastime......

Cheryl said...

Hi Monica.....butterflies are so fuzzy ....that is one of the things I love about them......

Cheryl said...

Hi Marmee.....it is good at last to capture this little fellow....it has been frustrating at times....they are so quick and don't rest often....

Yes the butterfly is known as the Orange Tip.....

Hope you are well.....

NCmountainwoman said...

Wonderful captures of these lovely butterflies. Way to go!

Brenda Pruitt said...

Congratulations on catching them! By the way, what kind of bird is that at the top of your sidebar photos? Haven't seen that one.
Brenda

Rose said...

He is beautiful! I've never seen a butterfly like this one before. You must have been very patient, Cheryl, to get these exquisite photos.

I am hoping to visit the butterfly exhibit here in Phoenix on Monday; I hope I get a few decent photos of them. It's beautiful here--like the first of summer with everything in bloom. Each morning I sit on daughter's balcony and watch and listen to the different birds singing. I need a different book to identify these, though:)

Forgot to mention in my comment on your last post about the notecards--they are lovely! Dawny P. was very thoughtful, and she's very talented.

Wendy said...

Oh Cheryl! How exciting!! You've captured this little gem beautifully! And after waiting 7 years. It must have been a good day for you all around.
I am so happy.
Thank you for posting this. I've never seen a butterfly like this. So unusual.

CIELO said...

How beautiful... I just love nature and everything it have to offer us.... What a wonderful Creator we have!

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day, my sweet friend.

Hugs

cielo

Cheryl said...

Hi Brenda...thank you so much...
the cheeky chappie on the sidebar is our native robin....and a charming little fellow he is......

Cheryl said...

Dear Rose.....you are so kind to drop by....I do hope that you will be able to get some lovely photographs at the butterfly exhibit....I shall think of you there....

Sounds divine...sitting on daughters balcony and listening to birdsong.....I bet you feel so relaxed, all that tension just draining away......

Have lots and lots of fun.......

Cheryl said...

Dear Wendy and Cielo...thank you for your lovely comments, always a pleasure to hear from you....

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
Oh my goodness he is absolutly beautiful....oh my!!
Oh my, oh my, oh my!
Thank you!
I hope you will print this marvelous photograph for your desk.
He is beautiful and your photography is spot on!
Sherry

John Young said...

Hi Cheryl, fantastic, what a treat. I'm still waiting for the same moment, hopefully one day. John

Cheryl said...

Dear Sherry.....I was so thrilled when I got the photographs.......one move and this butterfly takes flight......he is around for such a short time......I was so honoured to share this time with him......

Thank you for your kind words....from you I know they are sincere......

Cheryl said...

Thank you John.....I hope that one day the delightful Orange Tip will sit and pose for you.......

Tricia Ryder said...

Well done Cheryl - well worth the wait! :D And they're not a particularly frequent visitor either.

Pat said...

Nice job!!
Never seen anything like it.
It's great to see wonders from other places than home.

Libby said...

Stunning, lucky you!!
I have had bees in my garden too, I really must find out about the different species!!

sweetbay said...

Beautiful captures.

AnneTanne said...

Lucky you!
It's one of my photographical wishes too, to be able to capture this one!
In Dutch, they are called 'oranje-tip' as well, but one of there folknames is 'peterselie-vlinder', persil-butterfly, because of the green patterned on the underside of their wings.