Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly, photographed by Jeff Zablow at Big Bend Wildlife Management Area, Florida

Our trip to Georgia this July to August 2016 was, super duper! ‘Our’ because Petra came along, too. The fieldwork was too much fun! Destinations were Yummy. The Habitat in Eatonton (27 species of butterfly in one morning), Shellman Bluff on the coast, Brunswick, Ga, Skidaway Island (very tony and gated, Thanks Fitz), Jekyll Island, Ga, St. Simon Island (birthplace of Virginia C Linch, founder of the world famous Butterflies & Blooms Habitat, Eatonton), Walton County, Georgia, and the Georgia Botanical Gardens, in Athens, Ga (home of the Bulldogs).

Catching a glimpse of this beaut, was not assured, and if I saw one, it was from some distance, on Skidaway Island. The Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) is a very big,  strikingly beautiful swallowtail butterfly. Last year I was bedazzled at big Bend Wildlife Management Area on the Florida Panhandle. Four, 4! days spent at Big Bend, surrounded by squadrons of these Palamedes. Not a human in sight all morning, each morning, but not alone, as these winged beauties flew in and out. They hunt for and sip nectar, hard and furiously.

Our plan is to return to Georgia in mid-September, and again make a run down to Big Bend. The tip I got then was that butterflies of all types abound when the Liatris (Gayfeather) is in bloom. Back last year, they just, just began opening, as I was extending my goodbyes to Big Bend. Argh!

The plan is to be back again, with Liatris in Full show! Alone again naturally?  (Petra does not join me in the field. meet her and you will know why).

Stay tuned.

Jeff