Don’t let the bright yellow fool you. This frequent flyer is a maverick full of dangerous twists, drops, and turns.
He did a fly by of our backyard and dang near collided with my husband’s 6ft tall flight control tower.
I believe he described it as…..“It looked like a small yellow bird!”
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a rare yellow butterfly. I tracked its origins to being a male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. It is hard to tell by the photos, but his size is incredible. He was at least three times bigger than the size of regular butterfly. I hear as caterpillars, they are pretty unique too. Mean and green about the size of small snake with eyes. Whoa.
We watched him in awe until he took to the airwaves again. Apparently, we were just a refueling station on his route.
Certainly, it is a rare treat for us to see a butterfly so different from the norm. We have TONS of the orange ones (Monarch), and many tiny-winged friends. But I haven’t seen a “small bird” size butterfly unless I was inside a Butterfly House at the State Fair.
Hey Maverick! Buzz by anytime. We are happy to oblige.
Living, Loving, Laughing.... 
The first photograph is exquisite!
LikeLike
It is actually on a leaf, but it looks in flight. 🙂
LikeLike
WOW!…what AMAZING photographs, Angelia!
That is one HUGE and BEAUTIFUL butterfly!
In the first photo it almost looks like a glider plane. And the close up in the last photo is exquisite!
Well done, my friend! Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day!
X
LikeLike
Thanks Ron! I had a little help from my husband. He spotted it and helped hold the camera still. I guess this fella is a frequent guest after all. I saw someone else post the yellow swallowtail from my area and it buzzed by our window the other day too. Yay!
LikeLike
Great snaps!! Beautiful colors and paint job on the aircraft. 😉
LikeLike
One gorgeous aerial. If I only I could catch a jaunt on those wings…
LikeLike
Hey! That guy looks familiar. 🙂
The little yellow markings at the end of his wings look like claws or fangs from afar!
LikeLike
Thank-you for having an eagle-eye and steady hands! I love the claw-shape. Love the blue markings too.
LikeLike
Wow, beautiful shots. Butterflies are not easy to capture. You did a great job 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks! My hubby helped….a lot. 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful! Those little guys can be quick!
LikeLike
Very quick! Definitely a buzz rather than a meander.
LikeLike
Gorgeous
LikeLike
Hopefully, you have seen one near your yard?
LikeLike
I worked at a butterfly museum last year and I never noticed the tiny blue and red spots! Beautiful!
LikeLike
Yes, those are so neat. I think it marks whether is is female or male, but now I can’t remember which is which? 🙂 How cool to work in a museum of them!
LikeLike
You managed to get some great shots. I’ve been seeing one cutting through our yard, too.
LikeLike
This must be the year for them. Love it!
LikeLike
Fabulous shots. Glorious butterfly. What an awesome surprise visitor!
LikeLike
I know! I really like those kind of surprises. 🙂
LikeLike
Wow! Gotta love those National Geographic moments right in your own backyard! That is amazing! Great photos!
LikeLike
Yes, and hard to believe we are in the “big” city and still see them. I can’t imagine what would see if we were in the country. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, I’m not much of a country girl – I CAN imagine, and I’m not sure I could handle it…at all! 🙂
LikeLike
Ooooo…pretty!
LikeLike
Yes! Almost as lovely as a pop-tart. 🙂
LikeLike
Holy crap…a butterfly bird. That kind of scares me. Was it just the one? Or did it pack the family and it’s grandma?
LikeLike
Ha ha ha! No, just one. I think a flock would be kinda scary though. I love lady bugs but, they swarmed at my mom’s house one year. I wasn’t such a fan after THOUSANDS landed on me.
LikeLike
I love being able to capture butterflies on camera!
LikeLike
Nature is one of my favorites!
LikeLike
Gorgeous! How cool to see a rare type, We always get the usual but they are one of the few things I love about the warmer weather : )
LikeLike
I love the Monarchs too. My sister had the caterpillars on her milk-weed plant. I have to get some milk-weed now. 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Saturday’s Share: Tiger Swallowtail Epiphany | shanjeniah
Fantastic shots there! Love the first picture and aren’t they just gorgeous?!
LikeLike
So, so, so, so gorgeous!
LikeLike
Such beautiful photos of this gorgeous butterfly, Angelia. Wonderful markings. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank-you dear! I love seeing stuff like this. I can’t get enough.
LikeLike
You’re very lucky to see so much of these lovely little creatures, Angelia. 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful pictures, Angelia. 🙂 The last one is my favorite!!
LikeLike
Thank-you Arindam! Glad you enjoyed. I hope you have these where you live?
LikeLike
Again, you got lucky! As always, you capture the rare ephemeral moment so well. ❤
LikeLike
Wonderful shots. You have a love for nature that shines through 🙂
LikeLike
Thank-you, I do. It comes from my Father. Even though he has passed, I carry his love for nature deep in my soul. I didn’t start photography until after he died. So, when I am in nature, I imagine he is with me and enjoying the shots too. Funny, how something beautiful always comes along…
LikeLike
That is such a wonderful way of thinking. What a wonderful legacy 🙂
LikeLike