As the morning warmed up I could smell the honeysuckle as I walked along the dike and pretty soon several butterflies appeared.
This Gulf Fritillary was a very bold orange, and in pristine shape like he had just hatched.
Gulf Fritillary on Honeysuckle
Several Skippers were intent on feeding from the underside of the leaves, this one popped out for just a moment.
Long-tailed Skipper on Honeysuckle
This last butterfly looks like a Sulpher Butterfly, but was much smaller, about this size of a dime (Diameter 0.750 in. ~ 19.05 mm) . Research turns up it is likely a Little Yellow.
Little Yellow butterfly on Honeysuckle
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 26, 2022
A number of butterflies, including this Long-tailed Skipper, were working a row of wildflowers at the edge of field at Botany Bay WMA. I do not know this flower, and spot metering on the insect left that bright white blown out.
Long-tailed Skipper, Just a hint of the turquois visible at the base of his tailLong-tailed SkipperLong-tailed Skipper
Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 14, 2022
The color of the pokeweed berries and stems were a nice contrast to this grasshopper.
Grasshopper on Pokeweed – Canon 100-400mm
The spiny structures on his back leg look like they mean business.
Grasshopper on Pokeweed – Canon 100-400mm
This last shot was taken with the Canon 100mm macro lens. I couldn’t get the angle I wanted with the available footing and the grasshopper never moved, so it is nearly the same image as above.
Grasshopper on Pokeweed – Canon 100 mm
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 24, 2022
Named for the color of its silk, this Golden Silk Orb-weaver’s web was in just the right light to see why.
Golden Silk Orb-weaver
A close up of the web, so interesting that the strands towards the center of the web (left) are spaced in a even grid-type pattern, and towards the outer edge the circular bands are closer together.