Banded Hairstreak

photograph of a banded hairstreak butterfly on wild flowers

This little Banded Hairstreak was busily drinking nectar when I encountered it in a forest meadow.  I didn’t seem to mind me taking photos.  In fact, it didn’t even seem to notice I was watching it.

Mourning Cloak

photograph of a mourning cloak butterfly on purple flowers

This Mourning Cloak butterfly stops to rest and feed in a patch of tiny, purple wild flowers.  I encountered it while hiking with a friend this spring in the Great Dismal Swamp near Suffolk, VA.

 

Pipe Vine Swallowtail

Searching for good photographic subjects on Big Walker Mountain, I happened upon a group of these large, blue and black butterflies.  My friend James Shelton, who is quite the amateur entomologist, tells me this butterfly is a Pipe Vine Swallowtail.

Zabulon Skipper

photograph of a Zabulon Skipper butterflyWhile attempting to photograph some bumble bees at work I noticed this little skipper flitting among the wild flowers.  I’m not certain I’ve identified it correctly but I believe it is a Zabulon Skipper.

Butterfly At Work

Photograph of a blue and black butterfly moving on a flowerDuring a recent visit to the Big Walker Mountain Lookout tower, near Wytheville, VA, I noticed large blue and black winged butterflies busily gathering nectar from nearby flowers.  I had my camera on a slow ISO setting and the evening light was beginning to fade.  The resulting image of a blurred butterfly seemed appropriate to me since they seemed to never stop moving.