Here’s another view of the bold Gulf Fritillary I featured yesterday.
In contrast, this one was tattered and faded.
That’s quite a chunk missing out of his forewing, and the hind wings have some damage, too. But he could still fly.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 26, 2022
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.
Several Skippers were intent on feeding from the underside of the leaves, this one popped out for just a moment.
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.
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.
Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 14, 2022
The color of the pokeweed berries and stems were a nice contrast to this grasshopper.
The spiny structures on his back leg look like they mean business.
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.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 24, 2022
Here is one more species of dragonfly I photographed on September 14, rather a banner day for dragonflies.
This one was perched on vegetation hanging over the edge of a pond.
Narrow blades of grass seemed to be the preferred resting spot.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 14, 2022
This Needham’s Skimmer was perched close to the ground and out of the breeze, a nice fit for using the Tamron 180mm macro lens.
The angle and background worked well to pick up the orange tones.
He didn’t move far between these shots, trying out some different perches almost like a model.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 14, 2022
There were a lot of these Baskettails zooming over a dike between two ponds, presumably feeding.
This reed stalk was the highest vegetation around with the top coveted perch well above my head.
Backlit by the sun, you can see numerous tears in the wings.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 14, 2022
On a Morning Glory
October 16, 2022
Named for the color of its silk, this Golden Silk Orb-weaver’s web was in just the right light to see why.
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.
September 16, 2022
I almost deleted this image then saw the antennae sticking out from the stem below the dragonfly.
The dragonfly shifted to another branch right after I took the first image, giving me a little better view.
And then one more time, this time choosing a leaf as his perch.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
August 27, 2022
