leps

[Ashrunner]

I have about 100 or so critters encased in amber which are anywhere from 20-40 million years old. But these days, I collect my critters with the camera. You can check out my butterfly images at My Photography in my signature.

I chose the sister because I came across my one and only individual in Texas a little way outside of the accepted eastern range limit for the species. It was a very light colored individual as opposed to most being dark colored and it was gorgeous. Even the undersides which were about all I was able to image (except for a small area of the upper wing when it opened a little). The bug was about six and half feet up in a tree in Kerr Wildlife Management Area northeast of San Antonio.

When I decided to attempt a butterfly model, the first one which popped into my head was the California Sister.

[Don Boose]

Ash -- Those photos are superb! I have only had time to go through a few of them so far, but look forward to spending a lot of time with this collection. The red-tailed hawk in flight (profile) is wonderful!

Incidentally, "my" pileated woodpecker was back this morning, but I wasn't able to get a clear photo. No leps at present, but just now as I type, I am looking out onto a red cardinal, a female cardinal, a Carolina wren singing her heart out, a white-breasted nuthatch coming down the ash(!) tree (upside-down, of course), a flutter of black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, goldfinches, and house finches, a couple of chattering blue jays, and the occasional hairy or red-bellied woodpecker that swoops in to peck at the suet block. As Birder said in another thread, "Ah, spring!"

Don

[Phil]

One for you lep-lovers. Don't remember where I got it.

[Don Boose]

A tiger moth, presumably!

[birder]

added another to my little collection, a blue, shown as a group and closer, I'm afraid I have to rely completly on guides to identify blue species and many others, but they are certainly easy to recognize as one of the group
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...v/IMG_1530.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...v/IMG_1532.jpg
these are the little guys that flit about the muddy areas of the garden

[dansls1]

Very nice butterflies.

[birder]

Thanks Dan, they look nicer without the flash, maybe I'll try to get a pic outside, cute and quick to make

[model-tina]

i have made the same with the flower

[Phil]

That is beautiful model-tina! Is that your design?

[birder]

Phil, that is the free one fron Canon, here's the challenge a three-view of the real thing, briefly entangled in a bit of spider webbing one of my favorites, the Cerissy sphinx;