Friday, May 16, 2014

large marble ~ 05/16/14 ~ Mal Paso Canyon


Did I choose the butterflies, or did they choose me?  I guess it helps when studying butterflies that given enough patience they'll cooperate for poses on my fingers.  Am I the butterfly whisperer?  Not really.  Macro, macro, macro!  Mwahahaha...  In the hand, this large marble is totally a piece of cake to ID.  However, I still can't distinguish this butterfly in flight compared to the more ubiquitous cabbage butterfly, which has been extremely frustrating for me.  Chris is quite impressive with his flight ID skills (probably all those years spent as a birder), but it's hard to explain to another person exactly what you look for to make that ID.  I think everyone has different cues that work for them.  I know a local botanist who is color blind, and I actually think that helps him distinguish the slight color variations in plants.  We all have our gifts.

4 comments:

GretchenJoanna said...

From all the butterflies you are able to photograph, I might believe you to be the Whisperer. This one is very pretty! So fresh and springy-green...

GretchenJoanna said...

What I meant to say is, its green and white design reminds me of some of the sundresses I've been seeing in the stores lately.

Katie (Nature ID) said...

Thanks for the visual, Gretchen. It does look like a lovely pattern, perfect for a sundress.

Jennifer said...

Yes, you are the butterfly whisperer.