Category Archives: Blues

Cyaniris Antiochena, a Tiny Blue Butterfly, Flew into Wildflowers on a Primitive Trail

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Filed under Blues, Golan, Israel

Cyaniris antiochena butterfly photographed by Jeffrey Zablow at Northernmost Golan, Israel

How exciting is it to find a rare HolyLand (Israel) butterfly? Answer: Very. How much more exciting is it to find such a rare butterfly Without the aid of a guide? Answer: Crazy much more exciting! Have you scoured remote. distant and rarely visited locales?

This is such. I was on a 5 day trip up to the north of Israel, to the uppermost Golan region, north of Capernum. Remember the fascination of Capernum when you were in Sunday school? The only folks I saw those days were soldiers, that’s how remote it was. The borders with Syria and Jordan were about a 30-minute drive, and a kid from Brooklyn  never loses sight of that.

This tiny blue butterfly, Cyaniris Antiochena flew in to wildflowers on the primitive trail I was working, and I of course, shot away. Here’s the best of those exposures. Rare tiny blues in wild, wild northern Israel.

I would’ve loved to have been there with you, but OK.

Jeff

Photographing a Rare Aricia Agestis Butterfly in the Israeli HolyLand

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Filed under Blues, Upper Galilee, Israel

Aricea Aegestis butterfly  Nahal Dishon National Park, photographed by Jeff Zablow at Upper Galilee, Israel

There I was in the Nahal Dishon Park in the Upper Galilee, the HolyLand (Israel). I was there to find and photograph ‘Protected’ Israeli butterflies. It’s never enough for me to just catch a fleeting glimpse of a blurred wing, or mediocre view. I strive to capture more, detail, beauty, unique looks.

I did that here, to my own demanding satisfaction,. Those trailing orangish-red blazes on the 4 wing margins please me. Oft times, my Macro- approach spooks the butterfly, and I either get nothing or I score unsatisfying images. This one? I’m viewing Dubi Benyamini’s field guide, and I’m happy to compare this shot with the images I see. Good. Very good. A rare butterfly, seen and acceptably photographed. The photographer? . . . . Me!

Jeff

HolyLand Blues Coupled

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Filed under Blues, Ramat Hanadiv, Israel

Common Blue butterflies, photographed by Jeff Zablow at Ramat Hanadiv, Israel

Imagine my delight as I was working the terrain of Ramat Hanadiv’s extensive refuge, and what do I see? This pair of Pseudophilotes vicrama astanbe, coupled, motionless and sweet in color! Found them, and their total dedication to procreation enabled me to make a successful Macro- approach and score this image.

I love and take in their lush colors. Colors always capture me, and these here, especially the red darts of the female on the left, and the wash of blue on the male (right of image) bring a smile.

Ramat Hanadiv in within a mile of the Mediterranean Sea, and the good green seen behind attests to the rich flora of this region of Israel, hilly and vibrant.

Jeff

Blue HolyLand Butterfly

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Filed under Blues, Mt. Hermon, Israel

Common Blue Butterfly at Mt. Hermon, Israel

There are several species of Blue butterflies that you might see on Mt. Hermon in the HolyLand (Israel). They are all tiny, and identifying them requires that you see both the upper (dorsal) wing and the lower (ventral) wing surfaces.

When I saw this one, there at the northeastern tip of Israel, this bluer than blue dorsal wing surface kind of shocked me. I was so fixated by this extra ordinary blue that I forget the make sure that I saw its ventral wing patterns.

Sitting here with our Israel Butterfly field guide, by Dubi Benjamin, I can’t be sure of its species. It’s blue as blue can be, and that’s just got to do. No?

Jeff

Found! Another Difficult to Find HolyLand Butterfly

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Filed under Blues, Golan, Israel

Cyaniris antiochena butterfly photographed by Jeffrey Zablow at Northernmost Golan, Israel

How much does it take to please you? Me? This image did it for me. I found her in the Upper Golan region of the HolyLand. Cyaniris Antiochena Antiochena flies from April to May in the Golan and Upper Galilee regions fo the HolyLand/Israel.

Went there to visit family, and to bring back images of rare butterflies, for you to enjoy. I had no guide, no tips from experts or those in the know. I have a field guide, and good maps. G-d was there for me in the HolyLand, enabling me to achieve my goal of finding butterflies that are 1/2 way around the world, and endangered and difficult to find or shoot.l

I just Googled this one, and Daddah! my image came up immediately! That pleases me, alot. A rare Blue butterfly where Th-y once walked. Still pleasing us, today.

Jeff