August 16, 2011
Swallowtail
After a period of disappointment because there didn’t seem to be any Swallowtails visiting this year, today there were several visiting our flower garden and this one patiently posed for a few photos. They hadn’t disappeared, they were just later than usual. Usually my photos result from a trip I have made: it was nice today to have a subject come to me (and thanks to my wife for spotting it and letting me know we had a pretty little visitor).
Western Tiger Swallowtail ~ Papilio rutulus
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Montana Outdoors 
They are so beautiful! I think they are the queen of butterflies they way they float so gracefully and royally through the air. We have lots of swallowtails this year.
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Comment by kateri — August 16, 2011 @ 8:45 pm
It looks like we may have lots too: I saw more after this one visited. They seem to be more friendly than most butterflies, and more patient too.
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Comment by Montucky — August 16, 2011 @ 10:07 pm
I love those spots of blue on the tail!
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Comment by jomegat — August 16, 2011 @ 9:35 pm
They are intriguing, aren’t they! Each blue spot seems to consist of tiny blue dots; an interesting way to do it.
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Comment by Montucky — August 16, 2011 @ 10:09 pm
Omigosh, those are absolutely stunning! He (she?) flitted from flower to flower very nicely so you could get a variety of backgrounds. Those are all worthy of framing! I love the one against the orange flowers (lilies?) and the one with the flag in the background. The macro lens? What detail!!!!!
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Comment by Candace — August 16, 2011 @ 11:00 pm
The orange flowers are Tiger Lilies which we have in abundance. I like them though. Yes, this butterfly let me get close enough to use the macro lens. Getting the exposures right was difficult, but these turned out pretty well I thought.
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:27 pm
Tiger Swallowtails on Tiger Lilies, cool. Yes, Slide Rock is still there, still beautiful, still open, and still crowded to capacity in the summer.
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Comment by Candace — August 19, 2011 @ 6:37 pm
Hi Montucky, So beautiful! I love the Swallowtail Butterflies in all their forms. My favorite of this series is the one where the butterfly is on the orange Lilly. Have a very good day today!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — August 17, 2011 @ 6:10 am
I love the Swallowtails too. (All butterflies, actually!) This particular one was in excellent condition, with no wing damage that I often see on them.
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:29 pm
Beautiful!! Especially the last one. Nice angle.
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Comment by thedailyclick — August 17, 2011 @ 9:23 am
Thanks! It seemed as though because I was below him, the butterfly was not a bit nervous in the last photo.
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:31 pm
Mercy sakes alive, these are beautiful… I’m partial to flutterbys heheheee =)
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Comment by Tricia — August 17, 2011 @ 12:45 pm
I’m partial to them too, and fascinated at how they can handle those huge wings!
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:32 pm
These are without doubt the most striking butterfly pics I’ve ever seen. Well done! (And thanks to your wife for spotting it!)
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Comment by Kim — August 17, 2011 @ 2:29 pm
Thanks Kim!
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:33 pm
beautiful color! Did you use anything special to process these?
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Comment by Mary Wallace — August 17, 2011 @ 2:46 pm
Only some minor tweaks for exposure in iPhoto, which is all I have for post-processing.
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:34 pm
Oh, it is a beauty! It looks lovely in every setting.
I saw a tattered black swallowtail this morning in the garden. It seemed to be checking out the fennel. I think they lay eggs there.
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Comment by sandy — August 17, 2011 @ 3:05 pm
I haven’t seen any black Swallowtails. There are other black butterflies around, small ones, but I haven’t had any luck photographing them.
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:37 pm
Wow, just stunning photos of this beautiful butterfly!
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Comment by farmhouse stories — August 17, 2011 @ 4:55 pm
Thanks Cait! It was a patient subject!
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:38 pm
Those are really beautiful shots!!
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Comment by kcjewel — August 17, 2011 @ 6:04 pm
Thanks Jewel!
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:38 pm
Wasn’t that nice of him to pose for you on such nice contrasting colors for you. Really brings out his colors and details. Later than normal…does that tell you anything about the Autumn season?
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Comment by Scott Thomas Photography — August 18, 2011 @ 4:58 am
Being a little later than usual is interesting. I wonder if it had anything to do with our very late spring; don’t know it it projects forward toward fall though.
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:40 pm
Fantastic photos- that first shot is a definitive picture!
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Comment by Watching Seasons — August 18, 2011 @ 4:38 pm
I thought so too. That shows the full detail of the species, which is one of the things I was trying for.
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:41 pm
Clearly worth the wait. What breath taking photographs! Beyond words!
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Comment by Wild_Bill — August 18, 2011 @ 4:50 pm
Thanks Bill! They are gorgeous creatures, aren’t they!
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 9:42 pm
Wonderful stuff! These pictures are breathtaking.
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Comment by Ratty — August 18, 2011 @ 11:17 pm
Thanks Ratty!
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Comment by Montucky — August 18, 2011 @ 11:25 pm
Exquisite..extraordinary detail and beauty. Stunning!
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Comment by Marcie — August 19, 2011 @ 5:57 am
Thanks Marcie. I love their visits!
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Comment by Montucky — August 20, 2011 @ 9:01 pm
Your wife did great spotting this for you. They’re really beautiful and I can’t believe how well they posed for you.
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Comment by Tammy — August 19, 2011 @ 7:05 am
I’ve observed that they really focus when they are on those two types of flowers and not so much on others. That makes it easier!
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Comment by Montucky — August 20, 2011 @ 9:02 pm
Wow, what beautiful and clear photos! Good teamwork.:-)
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Comment by Giiid — August 19, 2011 @ 1:17 pm
Thanks Giid! Yes, I’m glad she spotted the butterfly: the conditions were good for photos!
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Comment by Montucky — August 20, 2011 @ 9:03 pm
Wow, Dad, these are my favorite photos of all! Each one is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!! You must frame one of these, or even do a few. They’d make a great present…hint, hint. 😀 I love you!
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Comment by Anonymous — August 19, 2011 @ 3:27 pm
Thanks Hon! While you are here, let’s pick the ones you like and I’ll order some prints for you. Love you too!
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Comment by Montucky — August 20, 2011 @ 9:05 pm
What a very thirsty butterfly! Beautiful photos, lovely to see them so close-up. 🙂
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Comment by Val — August 21, 2011 @ 11:37 am
I like getting a good close look at them too. They are very beautiful little creatures!
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:16 pm
wow! what great shots. and how nice to have it right in your own garden!
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Comment by silken — August 22, 2011 @ 12:01 pm
They visit every summer, especially on those flowers. They also like Sweet Williams, but those have stopped blooming already.
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Comment by Montucky — August 22, 2011 @ 8:12 pm
Spectacular collection of Swallowtail images… just marvelous! 🙂
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Comment by Victoria — August 22, 2011 @ 12:06 pm
Thanks Tory! There were some real challenges with the light, but I thought these turned out pretty well.
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Comment by Montucky — August 22, 2011 @ 8:25 pm
These are the most gorgeous photos of the Swallowtail on those outstanding, colorful flowers. Such sharp detail and deep colors. Wowzers!
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Comment by Anna — August 22, 2011 @ 3:19 pm
It’s a beautiful world they live in, isn’t it!
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Comment by Montucky — August 22, 2011 @ 8:26 pm
Awesome.
Swallowtails exist also here in Finland. We call them “knight butterflies”. This summer we had very few butterflies. I do not know the reason to it, but maybe due to that because our weather was too hot and many flowers suffered from hot weather, but who knows.
Thank You showing these mighty photos.
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Comment by sartenada — August 27, 2011 @ 11:33 pm
We seemed to have few butterflies here too this summer, although maybe some just appeared later than usual. The Pine White ones showed up late but in good numbers.
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Comment by montucky — August 28, 2011 @ 7:43 pm
I dropped by from Teresa’s place and very sorry I haven’t been a regular. These photos are sublime,
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Comment by Cletis — August 30, 2011 @ 7:10 am
Thank you Cletis. I do my best to show some of the beautiful things in this (usually wild) world.
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Comment by montucky — August 30, 2011 @ 9:30 pm