February 19, 2012

Butterfly Estates

SDP  2-19-12
I've been wanting to visit Butterfly Estates in downtown Ft. Myers for at least a year. I finally made it yesterday and it was worth the wait! Oodles of pretty butterflies were flitting around the conservatory: swallowtails, longwings, atalas (and whatever else was listed on the guide sheet). Wow...those little creatures are fast! It was a great challenge trying to get one in frame, let alone in focus. Admission is good for the entire day, so you can leave the warm conservatory, cool off, and return (which I did). After diligently taking detailed notes about the various species I thought I had captured, I'm at a loss as to the exact identity of the butterfly in this photo. I'm 90% sure it's a black swallowtail (possibly a juvenile with those orange spots).  Anyway, this one was kind enough to land for a split second for this photo opp.   See the bright blue dot which appears to be suspended over its head -- that's part of its antennae.   So cool!

9 comments:

Kate said...

How fortunate we are to have communities to give us opportunities to see wild life like this and to be able to photograph it. You did so very well in capturing this photo!

Lorraine said...

So beautiful!

Kathy said...

At least once a year the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix has an expo of monarch butterflies. I learned the last time I went they fly them over daily from the West Coast! You were indeed fortunate to get such a beautiful photo. My kudos to you!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous capture!

Michelle said...

Beautiful shot!

Lowell said...

Funny you took all those notes and then can't remember this one. Sounds like something I'd do! It's a gorgeous flutterbye in spite of that!

There was a very nice Butterfly World in South Florida which we visited years ago, and I understand there is a great butterfly place at the U of F in Gainesville which is on our "to do" list.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Another great capture, well done SRQ. The markings on butterflies always amaze me, they're so intricate and symmetrical!

Jack said...

This is great, SRQ. I am embarrassed to say that I haven't been there, but I promise to do so sometime in the next couple of weeks. Did you stay for the Edison Festival of Lights?

Birdman said...

A fine shot captured in mid-flight.