Canada is a Wildlife Wonder with Toronto’s Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Posted April 13, 2013

Filed under Mourning Cloak, Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Canada. I was visiting Toronto which is clean, welcoming and beautiful. Along with my wide angle lens, I often bring along my Macro- lens on trips which include photography. I try to keep my Canon camera as busy as possible, and I ask around if there are any nearby parks in the city, parks that might host a population of butterflies. Yes, I was told, why don’t you drive to West Don Park? It is an easy 10 minute drive from my hosts. I was blessed with light traffic and courteous drivers. My Pennsylvania license plates provided me with quite a bit of latitude once it was noted that I was a visitor.

West Don Park? Bingo! A gold mine of butterflies that particular week in mid-July.

In Western Pennsylvania I encounter Nymphalis Antiopa infrequently in the spring and even less often in the fall months. Often, the individual butterflies I see are worn and show evidence of failed attacks from predators. This morning in West Don was sunny, no wind and milkweed (Asclepias Syriaca) was in bloom. Three Mourning Cloak butterflies were eating nectar on a single milkweed plant. OMG! Back home I rarely see them nectaring, and those that I do approach, flee once I am within ten feet. Nymphalis Antiopa in Toronto allowed me to approach and photograph from just 18 inches away, and they were sizable butterflies. My heart must have been pounding! I was in a heaven of Mourning Cloak butterflies.

These butterflies had fresh colors and an absence of significant wing damage. Their colors were a rich, rich maroon; carribean islands blue, and sunflower yellow. This image captures many of those striking hues.

Is this a candidate for being my favorite butterfly? I answer with a sheepish y-e-s. Our two earlier Mourning cloak posts do hint at my little secret.

Canada is the wildlife wonder that I long understood you to be. Mourning Cloaks photographed while eating nectar. Can you imagine?

August will soon be upon us. Can our Canadian followers suggest a suitable park, with a rich butterfly population, that is within driving distance of Pittsburgh, Pa? Toronto was a 6.5 hours drive.

Jeff

Mourning Cloak Butterfly (photomiser.com)
The Mourning Cloak Butterfly (trekohio.com)

Female Butterflies Visit Flowers More Frequently than Males Do

Posted July 1, 2012

Filed under Admiral, Toronto, Canada

Toronto! The city was so much fun to see. My camera was along for the trip, so our good friend supplied directions to a park in the middle of the city. Early the next morning we prepared for who knows what?

Jackpot! West Don Park on July 17th. Let’s set the scene. Milkweed and thistle were in bloom and reaching peak. Butterflies, where? Everywhere!

Limenitis arthemis arthemis and Red admirals are very, very closely related.

Our instant butterfly here may well be a female. Females visit flowers much more frequently than males do.

After enjoying so many Mourning cloaks, Monarchs, Tiger Swallowtails, Sphinx moths and countless skippers, the appearance of this White Admiral was dramatic. It was as if a member of the royal crown family suddenly entered the hall.

As the field guides note, when Limenitis arthemis arthemis powerfully flies in, there is no doubt as to which species it is.

Jeffrey

Toronto’s Acadian Hairstreak Butterfly

Posted December 11, 2011

Filed under Hairstreak, Toronto, Canada

A trip to Toronto and I encountered this beautiful Acadian hairstreak butterfly in a Toronto city park. This trip to visit a friend showed me that Canada is rich in eye-popping wildlife.

Satyrium acidica is found in northeastern U.S.A. and in Canada. The butterflies in that park were fresh and included Mourning Cloaks, Painted Ladies and Hairstreaks.

This Acadian, as Striped hairstreaks and Gray hairstreaks will, remained stationary and approachable for 3 minutes or more. Their tiny size and my macro photography requirement made its cooperation much appreciated.

They are rarely seen south of Erie, PA. I have never seen another Acadian hairstreak. Meeting-up with this one, probably a male (he’s perched there hoping a female comes along), was nice, especially nice.

Jeffrey