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Posts from the ‘Fauna’ Category

critters

Here are a couple of critters we spotted along the trail while looking for butterflies. The first is a Robber Fly….a vicious creature! He needs a new name because what he actually does is spear his victims with his proboscis (including butterflies), inject a toxin that liquefies them and then slurps out their inside. Ewww!!! It sure is easy to see where horror movie makers get their monster ideas. The second critter is a Short-Horned Lizard. He’s also an insect eater but he just sticks out his tongue and grabs them. Same ending for the insect but more acceptable don’t you think? 🙂

Red Spotted Purple

This Red Spotted Purple butterfly was one of only seven I captured yesterday on the Colonel Devin Trail in Payson (Canon 300mm, ISO 1000, f/5.6 @1/800th sec). It was much cooler than expected, storm clouds and very windy. Butterflies don’t like that kind of weather but it was still a great day thanks to our master spotter, Marceline from CAZBA!

Hairstreak

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This tiny butterfly is a Hairstreak I captured last year in Payson, AZ (digitally, of course). CLICK HERE for a gallery of shots from that trip. We’re going back this weekend and I hope to get as many as last time! Tech: 100-400, ISO 400, f/9.5, 1/3000th sec.

Julia

julia butterflyCatching butterflies sitting still is tough so I was thrilled to not only capture one with open wings but also a great shadow. (Desert Botanical Gardens Butterfly Pavilion 2004)