monarch butterfly

Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) dorsal and ventral view. The white flowered shrub is a cultivated form of Buddleja.

Monarch nectaring on Buddleia. On my way back to the airport, I decided to spend one afternoon and night in Benicia, a charming and historic town (one of several former capitals of California) I'd only barely stopped in once for coffee. Had a lovely walk along the Bay Trail, though I didn't see...

By the neighborhood dock. Show up in late October on their way to Mexico.

Couldn't resist going in for a close-up of this monarch, and just managed to do so without stepping into the calla lily bed at SF Botanical Gardens.

Thought I'd go for variety today. Here's a butterfly to start off. The monarchs had left their winter grounds already when I was in CA the past couple of weeks, but there were a few that hadn't gotten far in their migration yet, still hanging around nectaring or hoping to find a mate to start...

This blossom was attracting many of these butterflies.

The migrating Monarchs start showing up here en masse in the late Autumn. I occasionally see a lone one way before so I think it hatched here in NW FL. I have native milkweed in my garden and I have had Monarchs lay eggs on them and have watched the caterpillars, chrysallis eventually emerge...

I am always surprised when I see a Monarch butterfly. The mass migration to NW FL is not until November. Since this was taken here in NW Florida in May, I am assuming it is from here and not from up North.

It is a while since I put up an insect.

Another familiar sight - a Monarch butterfly on a flowering shrub by the wall of the guest lodge at Itapeby.

Again, down by the neighborhood dock.

I am always excited when they show up in the autumn.

These are probably the most common butterfly in America, but I never get tired seeing them. Captured this one of a butterfly bush.

This was only the second Monarch I have seen all season long. It was in pristine condition though.

I actually had a great day on the marsh with many birds taken, but this image may be my favorite for that day.

This past September I witnessed a great flight of Monarch Butterflys migrating along the coast of New Jersey. Must have been about 800 - 1000+ esitmated by myself and one of the local Police Officers that patrol this area. They were feeding on Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) as...

Monarch gliding over a bed of Lavinder.

There's a monarch butterfly preserve near here. Millions of them, just hanging around. So many in flight it sounded like a light rain.

There's a monarch butterfly preserve near here. Millions of them, just hanging around. So many in flight it sounded like a light rain.

There's a monarch butterfly preserve near here. Millions of them, just hanging around. So many in flight it sounded like a light rain.