In 2016 I’m doing a 365 Nature project. Each day of the year I will post something here about nature. It may be any format, a photo, video, audio, sketch or entry from my nature journal. It could be a written piece. Each day I will connect to nature in some way and share it here by the end of that day. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to the RSS feed or be notified by email. See all the 365 Nature posts.
Today was more about the photo I didn’t get instead of the photo I did get. Over the last two weeks, a butterfly has been spotted in our backyard, but only briefly. The first time it flew through I just caught a glimpse as it passed by, but I noted it was orange and black and I was pretty sure it wasn’t a Painted Lady. The next time it flew not just through the yard, but around the yard briefly. Again though it was so quick I still didn’t get a good look at it. This routine kept happening every other day or so. I’d notice it, and whenever I did, I never had my camera nearby, and after I’d see it, that was it for the day, I wouldn’t see it a second time that day. Today I was standing inside and it briefly touched down twice before flying away, all the while I was trying to find my camera, my phone, anything to capture a photo. Of course, nothing was nearby, and I almost always have my phone on me. It always seems to visit on purpose when I’m unready for it. It’s become something of a white whale for me, trying to not only capture a photo of this mysterious and elusive butterfly, but simply to see it well enough to possibly identify it.
After all these quick sightings of it I’m inclined to say it’s a Red Admiral, but I wouldn’t say that with any confidence at all. I can only hope that stars align one day and I finally get a look at it before the flight season is over.
Meanwhile, above are photos from today of insects that actually stayed for more than a few seconds, while I had my camera.
