Green-Striped White Butterfly

13 05 2013

Small White Butterfly photographed in Northern Golan, Israel

I photographed a Green-Striped White Butterfly while working a wildlife refuge trail in northernmost Golan. Of course, photographing butterflies is not work. It’s exhilarating and it’s suspenseful. I have never been here before, and who knows what butterfly will fly in next? This fun is well known to those of us who pursue butterflies, birds, reptiles, uncharted wilderness, and an infinite number of other new experiences.

Euchloe Belemia Belemia is yet another Israeli speedster. Hurtling and zooming up the trail, the butterfly zipped from flower to flower, gauging the nectar reservoir of each new flower.

During my upcoming visit to Israel I will acquire a comprehensive wildflower field guide. Then I will no longer shy away from identifying those Middle Eastern blooms.

Found throughout Israel, this one was seen on March 19th, and of course, within moments, it was gone! gone! gone! The butterflies of Israel; they are speedsters!

Jeff


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Categories : Butterflies of Israel, For Interested Students, International, Whites, Wildflowers - Israel

At the Peak of Mt. Hermon

7 05 2013

Cow Grazing on Mt. Hermon at Mt. Hermon, Israel

Our second post of the view from the very peak of Mt. Hermon. Exhilirating for me! Routine for the cow?

Our upcoming trip back to the top of the mountain remains a Go! Guarantees? We know that there aren’t any. As of the date of this post, this remains one of the world’s situational hot spots.

I went with a guide in June 2008, and I will never forget that field work. Mt. Hermon has been known to offer as many as 40 species of butterflies that are not found anywhere else in Israel. Are they found in Syria? Well, look again at this beautiful image. That’s Syria down there. The geography you see is currently a battleground and an inhospitable graveyard, with men and families fleeing for their lives. So, we’ll not know anytime soon what butterflies are flying down there. I certainly won’t ever enjoy that outing.

Mt. Hermon also faces Lebanon. There too that side of the mountain shall forever, for us, keep its butterflies a mystery.

I go there very appreciative of the opportunity, praying that it remains one. I also remember, and posted before, that the butterflies on Mt. Hermon are virtually unapproachable. How will that be after they hear the daily Booms! and KaBooms! of man’s craziness below?

Do remember to keep in touch and revisit. Who knows what magical views we’ll share.

Jeff


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Categories : Butterflies of Israel, International, Mt. Hermon, Israel

Lang’s Short-Tailed Blue Butterfly

3 05 2013

Lang's Short-Tailed Blue Butterfly photographed by Jeffrey Zablow in Binyamina, Israel

Photographing this butterfly was another Birthday present for Jeffrey. It’s November 27th, one day before my Birthday (B- because I love birthdays) and the farm roads surrounding Binyamina, Israel provide another gift for the Birthday boy! And it’s Lang’s Short-Tailed blue Butterfly, or more properly,  Leptotes pirithous. 

This male flew in from the tree breaks along the dormant fields and went straight for just about the only butterfly food trough around, Camphor weed.

One of several species of Blues in Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, Leptotes Pirithous are a delight as they fly in to feed. They graze flowers with singular purpose. When your approach with a camera is skillfully made, Lang’s Butterflies are quite tolerant and even cooperative. A little more head to the left please! and there he goes, pleasing you to no end. He’s a classic pookie!

On May I fly to Israel. My to-do list is topped by photographing on Mt. Hermon and seeking excellent photos of the Two-Tailed Pasha in the North. Any help you might offer with the Pasha, would be very appreciated.

Jeff


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Categories : Butterflies of Israel, Flowers that attract butterflies, For Interested Students, International

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