A selection of five photos captured during the emergence of Monarch butterfly caterpillars from their eggs. Location: Tucson, Arizona. June 9, 2026
#monarchbutterflies #monarchmigration #monarchcaterpillars
A House Finch (Haemorphous mexicanus) soaks up Arizona’s warm morning sun.
As promised, here is a photo of the Monarch butterfly eggs I collected on June 6. Ignore the quarters, they are there to hold the milkweed leaves flat against the moist paper towel. The eggs are the small white dots between the quarters.
Moved this Queen butterfly caterpillar, yesterday, from the 5 1/5 ounce plastic cup it was raised in from an egg, to a mesh cage in preparation for the chrysalis stage.
Flash: A Monarch butterfly deposited eggs on the milkweed yesterday morning and again in the evening. I collected 17 eggs. Photos coming.
“Nevermore”
In-camera multiple exposure
#multipleexposurephotography #abstractphotos #impressionistphotography
Went to the archives for this photo from 2011 to celebrate World Bicycle Day with a short video. Ride it, don`t park it (for too long).
A series of photographs captures the movement of a beautiful Ash-Throated Flycatcher.
#backyardwildlife #backyardphotography #tucsonwildlife
I don`t always do backyard photography from a blind, but when I do, I have a cup of dark roast coffee, and the sounds of @ajleebluesummit in the headphones.
#backyardphotography #gardenphotography
A Monarch has visited three evenings in a row. I suspect it is the one i released May 23. It`s nice of him to hang around and create this composition. #monarchbutterflies #backyardphotography #butterflyphotography
Aloe, Black and White Photograph
#blackandwhitephotography #blackandwhitephoto #cactuslover #cactusysuculentas #cactusandsucculents #cactuslove #cactus
A juvenile Costa`s hummingbird (Calypte costae) feeds from an Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii). Location: Tucson, Arizona.
Frequently, while I am watering outdoor plants, hummingbirds will drink from the water stream coming from the hose. I tell them they are not suppose to do that, but they don`t listen.
#backyardgardening #backyardphotography #backyardwildlife
A Queen butterfly caterpillar consuming the flower buds of a Desert Milkweed, aka Rush Milkweed (Asclepias subulata). The Queen butterfly ((Danaus gilippus) is closely related to the Monarch butterfly ((Danaus plexippus). The caterpillars of the Monarch and Queen feature white, black, and yellow markings. A quick method to tell them apart is to count the "spikes". Queens have three pair, while the Monarch has two pair.
#monarchbutterflies #queenbutterfly #insectphoto #macronature #caterpillars
The Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) is a tiny pretty bird in a big demanding desert. Amazing!
#desertlife #BackyardBirding #backyardgardeners #backyardphotography
The "Sole Survivor".
After watching a female Monarch butterfly deposit eggs on the backyard milkweed, I did a quick survey and located six eggs. I checked daily during the next three days, and day by day the number dwindled until I could not find any. Two weeks passed, and lo and behold, I found a Monarch caterpillar on the milkweed plant. I immediately ordered a mesh cage and placed the caterpillar inside with a potted milkweed plant. He (yes it`s a male) emerged this morning and is currently (10:30AM) resting on the cage exterior waiting to take his first flight. #monarchmigration #monarchbutterflies #backyardgarden
