October, Miraculously, Brings Many Visitors

And Monarchs Every Day

What a fascinating day this has been with several interesting butterfly visitors exhibiting unusual
behavior! I first checked on the #5 Chrysalis at noon, hoping to see some change, but there was none.
Little hope I think. There was, however, the male Monarch from yesterday. He can be
identified by his damaged wings as he came in for a landing. above. 

He has a fierce look close up and would use that look later in the day! He flew
about the garden, then landed on a zinnia leaf where he rested for over five minutes!

Also around noon, we had a Clouded Skipper, a lovely Cabbage White, the Long-tailed Skipper, and a Gulf Fritillary. The Monarch seemed to be disturbed by the Fritillary and appeared to chase it out of the garden!!

Later in the afternoon, a spectacular Pipevine Swallowtail came into the garden. It moves so fast and
spends only a second or two on a lantana bloom while keeping its wings moving quickly.  The Monarch noticed the Pipevine and landed on the same plant to feed.The Pipevine moved to a low lantana plant, and the Monarch flew away. In a minute he ‘dive bombed’ toward the Pipevine! I couldn’t tell whether he hit the plant or the Pipevine, but the Pipevine shot away like a rocket! 

Perhaps this was just a coincidence, but it was unusual behavior to watch. The Monarch came back to
feed, and I noticed that he is extremely methodical in the process, probing each little bloom in succession
all the way around the flower!  Who would have thought that butterflies could be so interesting? The calm ending to the afternoon was the quick little Skipper who landed just in front of the camera!