Photo Friday: Masses of Monarchs
Every year, there is a day when the monarchs migrate. It’s a day in September — early or later, depending on mysterious forces, but when they decide to go, there is a day when they flutter past my window. Singly, in pairs, sometimes in small clumps, but go they do.
This year, that day was September 2. My dear friend AB was here visiting from Denmark and this was the day we were taking her back to the airport so she could go home. I’d mase plans to go visit a local park called Corktown Common, which is rumoured to be absolutely inundated with butterflies one particular day in early fall. I thought maybe that big migration day would be it. It’s still a maybe — I’ll try to go next year.
I’ve been to the park since a few times last week and it turns out that not all the monarchs have left. In fact, there are still quite a lot. I’m putting it down to lots of milkweed being planted, as well as flowers that are very obviously butterfly food.
This park is not the only place that has a concentration of butterflies. After years of fewer and fewer of them, which I could see reflected in the decrease of monarchs fluttering by my window on a day in September, this year has a bumper crop. If you can say that about butterflies? Obviously, a lot of people have listened when they were asked to plant milkweed, the only plant that monarchs can breed on.
I am grateful that so many are stepping up to help the butterflies. And people like me who love to photograph them.
Well, and other animals we need to protect.
It was late in the afternoon the second time I went out my camera and there were less monarchs than a few days earlier, but still at times just clouds of them. It is magical to be surrounded by so many tiny beauties fluttering around your head.
We were also lucky to see a couple of butterflies that I have never seen before. As far as my research tells me, the orange is perhaps an Eastern Comma, and the black a Mourning Cloak.
On the way out, we also met another bit of urban wildlife: rabbits. I don’t remember the last time I saw wild rabbits and it was a treat.
Beautiful pictures as always.
thank you!
You have some gorgeous photographs here. We get a few peacock butterflies in the garden here. I also love seeing them and bees in the summer. I could spend hours watching them.
I had to look up peacock butterflies. So beautiful!
Oh so beautiful! Sounds amazing! And what great photos! I have a hard time capturing them on camera because they move so fast!
Tip: park yourself by a bush that’s butterfly food. 🙂 I can only catch them when they’re eating.
I bet that’s an amazing site to see. Would love to experiencing something like this.
It really was. I was so lucky to see it.
Wow, this is great. Butterflies are so beautiful. I love your photos.
thanks so much!
I would love to be able to see hordes of butterflies at once. I know we have butterfly gardens around where I live, somewhere but I have never been. I think my kids would love it!
And I bet you would, too! 🙂
Beautiful pictures. very clear and vibrant.
Beautiful pictures. very clear and vibrant. I love butterflies
Thank you!
Your photos are beautiful. I bet it was simply stunning! As a Christian, I believe that butterflies are a sign of life and a symbol of resurrection.
How beautiful! I never thought of them that way, but it does add something extra special.
These pictures are absolutely awesome. I did not even know you can get a close up pictures of butterflies like these right here.
Thank you for sharing
Thank you so much! (the secret is a good zoom lens)
Beautiful!! This year, we had a huge Painted Lady migration – it was more than a week with a constant stream of butterflies headed north. I just could not get over it. Thank you for helping me remember the wonder of it!
Wow! What amazing photography! I’ve always had a love for butterflies and couldn’t imagine being able to see a migration of them. What an incredible experience that would be!