I think my favorite thing to photograph this summer has not been the birds or the blooms, but the butterflies. I went for a walk this morning and saw several of these beauties enjoying my neighbor’s Lantana. Like this female Tiger Swallowtail – isn’t she breathtaking? 
You can tell she is a female because the male lacks the patches of blue. 
I thought this second butterfly was a Black Swallowtail, but I was mistaken. Turns out it too is a female Tiger Swallowtail – only the black morph version. 
This Silver-spotted Skipper (at least I’m pretty sure that’s what it is) was also flitting about. If you click on the picture to see the larger version, you can see its curled up proboscis, which is like a straw it uses to suck up nectar. 
Here it is with the Swallowtail so you can see the size difference. 
I’m so thankful I have neighbors that don’t seem to mind me stalking about their yards with my camera!
More Butterfly Beauty
Published by kathydoremus
Backyard Bird Nerd 
Awesome shots Kathy! Do your neighbors close the blinds when they see you walking! 🙂
I wouldn’t be surprised to see blinds closing!
Lol!
Beautiful butterfly shots!
Thank you. I so enjoyed taking their picture. 🙂
Wow! Oh, I love these!! Oh my gosh, Kathy! I was going to say you’re tempting me to draw them, but I don’t think I’d be able to stop at ink. I’d have to get that yellow and blue somehow, some way (and not even sure I could really get the drawing accurate). Would def. be a challenge, but a worthwhile one. These are amazing shots, and would be a joy to try and capture on paper. Woo. I keep thinking I’m reading a magazine every time I go to your site!
Once again, your comment made me smile. 🙂 And you should definitely try drawing a butterfly sometime – you would do great!
Thanks Kathy! I did try one last night in colored pencil. It wasn’t great but I shall try again! (Not everything makes it to the blog lol.)
I really enjoyed your photos! I did not know that the female Swallowtail had blue on its wings! And I did not know there was a black one. WOW! So amazing! 😊
I had so much fun taking the pictures. And I didn’t know there was a black tiger swallowtail either.
You photos of the Swallowtails are magnificent!
Why thank you. They are such beautiful butterflies to photograph.
Lovely captures of this gorgeous butterfly!
Thank you! I felt like I hit the “butterfly jackpot” yesterday morning when I saw so many flitting about. 🙂
Wow, such beauties!!! Amazing! Thanks for sharing!!! 😊
The Lantana colors added to the beauty of your butterfly captures! Wonderful!