Giant Swallowtail, Ottawa, Canada (1 Viewer)

Spotted a Giant Swallowtail at Shirley's bay today, between the car park and the dyke footpath. Not seen one before, stunning! Anyone know if they are unusual for the area? I've seen tiger, eastern and black before. But never giant.
Can add photos later. Thanks.

It isn't rare, but it is probably locally restricted to areas with the correct host plant (mostly spp. in Citrus family).

Thank you Silverwolf. I managed to contact a local butterfly enthusiast, and you are quite right. The area has Prickly Ash, which is their host plant. Apparently they are a fairly recent arrival in Ottawa, but with increasing numbers now.
A real treat for me anyway, rarity or not. This is the best of my photos - they are striking on both sides, so difficult to capture the beauty in still life!

The ones in California have started to spread across orchards and ornamental orange trees, don't think any other food plant is documented here. It is an interesting species that is rather variable in its habits.

(Technically it is two species now, "eastern" giant swallowtail and "western". Yours is eastern.)