Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
On your mark get set…go!
As far as elk are concerned, it’s not very often we get the chance to view or photograph them at this range, especially the bulls. So on this particular day, I was happy to have my longest lens handy while they trotted off in unison, as if beginning a race.
And although it may appear like they’re all bulls, there is one cow in the far back, and apparently she’s winning the race – which politically speaking, doesn’t happen very often either…
Before I get back to my collection of Sequim photos, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to post one more of these remarkable creatures, which I found at Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale, AZ.
Since its Greek name is a true tongue twister, I prefer to use the more common and descriptive name, Crimson-Banded Red Rim, for this one, which was perched on a flower that I find difficult to identify. Aside from that, it attracted more butterflies than most plants in the garden, and photographically speaking, if became one of favorite images from the trip.
Do not fear though…tomorrow I’ll be back with more locally based images, that is until April, when I plan to ask more of my photography friends to provide images during the two weeks that I plan to be in Florida. There I’ll be photographing my favorite subjects, BIRDS!
Apparently, this is the time of year when butterflies seek their mates and put on a display like no other. Although we didn’t witness much of their encounters, what we did see was quite entertaining, and educational as well. Never did I dream I’d be Googling, “butterfly sex”, in order to learn about what I’ve been missing all these years, and to share it with you. Nonetheless, if you’re interested, here’s the drill, according to www.kidsbutterfly.org/faq/behavior/4:
“Male butterflies find females by sight, and use chemicals called pheromones at close range. If the female accepts the male, they couple end to end and may go on a short courtship flight. They may remain coupled for an hour or more, sometimes overnight. The male passes a sperm packet called a spermatorphore to the female. The sperm then fertilize each egg as it passes down the female’s egg-laying tube.” And…according to this website, “Male butterflies mark their mates with a stench to ‘turn off’ rival suitors”….go figure!
And why didn’t I learn about this in the 50s and 60’s? Probably because it wasn’t taught!
But aside from that, I want to apologize for the hiccups on the blog yesterday. I can only blame evil digital demons, since I did my part, but somehow, my post was truncated and I wound up reposting. Thank you, loyal readers, for hanging in there, and as always, for your kind comments.
Butterfly Wonderland, Scottsdale, AZ is indeed a wonderful place to find hundreds of beautiful butterflies, and as luck would have it, this particular one was perched on a Mexican Flame Flower of the same color, and a similar name.
Commonly called the Julia butterfly, the flame, or flambeau, is a species of brush-footed butterfly, native from Brazil to southern Texas and Florida, and in summer can sometimes be found as far north as eastern Nebraska.
While dodging these winged wonders and having them land on our heads and hands, both my husband and I indulged in their beauty and agility. And, we watched in wonder as some attempted to mate, but as we discovered later, male and female butterflies may go on a courtship flight that can last for an hour or more; but with our limited time and my long, heavy camera/lens combo, we weren’t about to wait that long.
However, I do have some very close encounter images, one of which I’ll share with you tomorrow, just for “porn” sake.
While scanning for Northern Harriers and Red-Tailed hawks on Towne Road, I was surprised to spot two handsome and apparently healthy coyotes passing by. Both seemed very healthy with thick winter coats that blended beautifully in with their environment. And while I was anxious to get a shot, they were not about to accommodate me.
So, I credit my husband Jim for helping me to get this one. His quick thinking when he gave off a shrill whistle stopped one coyote in its tracks, while its mate quickly took off into the trees.
Afterwards, I learned that as a young boy, Jim whistled at deer to get their attention while hunting and never forgot the technique…who knew?!
And by the way, like me, he now “hunts” with a camera.
It had been awhile since I’d gotten close enough to photograph our elk herd, which I consider to be the gems of our community. But I was fortunate to spot them yesterday evening and to share in this tender moment between two cows.
The anticipation of seeing them, both the cows and the bulls, keeps me enthusiastic about hauling my gear, bundling up and waiting for the right moment, although it’s hit and miss as to whether they’ll show up, or “pose”.
I love the challenge though and when I take out-of-towners to their typical spot, they understand completely, although they often ask, “why would anyone name this SCHMUCK Road”???
I found these two snuggling up on a snag not long ago, and although a bit far from Sequim (at Semiahmoo), they have plenty of siblings, and/or cousins, in our area. And seeing that we have such clear blue skies as I write this, I couldn’t resist sharing them with you.
Although nothing is ever “perfect” with any couple, I think this pair comes quite close.