Thursday, February 24, 2011

Red Admiral Butterfly

Every day for the past 5 days, this Red Admiral butterfly comes to the same place. He sits on the lip to the pool, the rod the towel hangs on and the towel itself.

These butterflies are territorial and the male often returns to the same place over and over. We were amazed the first time he swooped down and sat on my arm for about 10 seconds. He lifted off and sat in Bob's hair, back to my arm, this time for about 30 seconds. I googled and this Red Admiral is known to be friendly to visitors in gardens. whooo hoooo what JOY and PHUN

the next day, I stood very still and he came and sat on my arm until I could no longer hold it still. I made a small move and he flew to Bob and sat in his hair, several times as we oohed and ahhed. He comes at 3 and 5 like clockwork. no photos of him sitting on us, but I did get him on the towel.

His little feet feel funny, like he is dancing on my arm. Beyond Way Cool. and Guess What???
there will be MORE, he has two females and we have been watching them DANCE.... Soon we will have Catepillars... did I say whooo whooo?

On Day 3 he actually sat on Bob's Nose......

21 comments:

From the Kitchen said...

I had no idea that these beauties were so friendly. Next time, please get a photo of him on Bob's nose.

Best,
Bonnie

Unknown said...

Wow wow wow great shots of the butterfly Sandra.
It is small, great detail.

Sunny said...

I wanna butterfly! I wanna butterfly! What great fun and pictures.
I would love to have seen a picture of him sitting on Bob's nose, haha!
☼ Sunny

DawnTreader said...

Ooooooh... This feels like seeing an old friend!!! It's one of the few butterflies that we have in common over here too, one of those that in the summer I sometimes see in my "Butterfly Park"... I've never had one land on me, though. I usually have to step into flowerbeds to catch them with the camera! ;) Say hello to him from me and I look forward to pictures of the "babies" (never seen those)...

Unknown said...

That is the coolest thing ever! I'll need to google this myself and figure out how I can draw them into my garden. Great post!

Scott Law said...

I can't believe you didn't get a photo of him on Bob's nose. Fun post (or should I say Phun).

George said...

These are wonderful pictures of the butterfly. I, too, would enjoy seeing a picture of the Red Admiral on Bob's nose.

Unknown said...

Sandra, that is SO COOL! You know I would be a little scaredy cat but I still would let it land on me just for the cool factor. I am looking forward to seeing more pictures of these lil critters!

Christine said...

He's beautiful Sandra; you got great shots of him.

Madeline said...

Soooo cool. What a magnificent little fellow! Who but God could make such a beautiful creature. Hope you get to see the babies come to life. I want to see him on Bob's nose too!

Ginny Hartzler said...

That is fantastic!!!! How many people have had a butterfly land on them and visit??? Not many, I bet. Now you have to rig up some kind of cadangous to snap the butterfly on you and Bob. No hands free or camera access for either of you, I can imagine. How about put your camera right down beside you or in a pocket, then as soon as he flies off you and onto Bob, grab it and snap? These pictures are really outstanding, too! You can eve see his striped feelers!

Kilauea Poetry said...

Well good thing you didn't have a brown towel!! I've seen a similar one that refused to hold still for me!! Lovely lovely!!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Oh how special! Having a butterfly land on one's arm is a wonderful experience.

Dawning Inspiration said...

Oh my goodness I love that you have butterfly's right now! Sooooo cool! And oh how I wish you could get a shot of one on Hub's nose!!! tee hee....

Remington said...

We love to watch butterflies. Mr. Red Admiral is very pretty or should I say handsome. It is so great to learn more about things....thank you for sharing. I wish I could have seen it land on Mr. Bob's nose....ha ha!

Ann said...

Beautiful butterfly. Interesting that it can tell time

The Retired One said...

It MUST be a good luck omen...how wonderful to have an intimate one on one moment with a butterfly!

Chatty Crone said...

Your family is growing! And the kids (lol) are beautiful. Sandie

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Sandra, That Red Admiral Butterfly is gorgeous... Seems as if he wants to be your friend. I wish you had a picture of him on Bob's nose. ha ha

We are under a tornado watch tonight... GADS!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

SquirrelQueen said...

Okay, now I have this image in my head of Bob sitting there cross-eyed trying to watch the butterfly on his nose. Sure you don't have a photo like that? Great shots of the Red Admiral.

srp said...

The caterpillars like nettles.......including stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), tall wild nettle (U. gracilis), wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica)