Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Nature => Topic started by: Brian Bailey on July 21, 2013, 09:31:33 PM

Title: A Monarch (at Last)
Post by: Brian Bailey on July 21, 2013, 09:31:33 PM
I visited the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton yesterday and finally saw a Monarch for 2013:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DguoaUlBVuM/UeyJxBa4FmI/AAAAAAAADd4/pdxgP-NQB_8/w1266-h883-no/_MG_8725CS6.jpg)
Also an Eastern Amberwing perched on a waterlily while I was composing a shot (a bit of a reach for my lens):
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-odlsUpDXyJ8/UeyJeNkPU4I/AAAAAAAADdo/j8JnK9PLocI/w643-h922-no/_MG_8771CS6.jpg)
He had me going for a bit with the ID, because he seemed too slim for an Amberwing.

BB
Title: Re: A Monarch (at Last)
Post by: Howieh on July 21, 2013, 11:30:16 PM
Unfortunately, I think I've used this line before - Brian, you may have seen a monarch but the butterfly in the picture is actually a viceroy.
Title: Not A Monarch (still)
Post by: Brian Bailey on July 22, 2013, 09:34:46 PM
OOPS!  :oops: I guess it's been so long I've forgotten what they look like.  (That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :wink:)

Actually, considering I was in a place full of flowers there were remarkably few butterflies.  This Viceroy was the only one I saw (yes, no Monarchs at all), I saw one Red Admiral, a few unidentified skippers and dozens of what I guess were Cabbage Whites, although they were moving very fast and I never saw one stop for a second (it was quite warm).  There did, however appear to be quite a good variety of bees. I was seeing 3 or 4 different kinds on a single plant.

BB
Title: Re: A Monarch (at Last)
Post by: Bluffs Birder on July 23, 2013, 10:07:10 PM
Yesterday, I saw a Monarch (my 4th of the year) flying and feeding on various flowers in the Garden Centre of Loblaws at Victoria Park and Gerrard.  Also, while looking over the Butterfly Bushes I had a Red Admiral land and begin feeding.

I read on a local butterfly board that all this hot humid air that's come up from the south has brought a few more butterflies in to the province including a few Monarchs.

Walter :)