Tag Archives: macro photography

Butterfly Big Year Update #4

Posted on May 18, 2022 by the roused bear

I have not taken any long trips this week but I have added a couple of species. On Monday I conducted my first butterfly survey of the season for the Iowa Butterfly Survey Network. I found this gorgone checkerspot at … Continue reading →

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Butterfly Big Year Update #3

Posted on May 10, 2022 by the roused bear

I went on a trip to Sauk City Wisconsin, chasing butterflies. The point of the trips is that they are a little bit spontaneous, depending on the weather and what other butterflies have been seen. However, I always feel a … Continue reading →

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The Butterfly Big Year has Started

Posted on April 21, 2022 by the roused bear

Birders sometimes do something called a “big year.” During a calendar year, they try to see and identify as many of the bird species in a particular area as they can. A few butterfliers have done something similar, most famously … Continue reading →

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A Warm Weather Photographer in the Cold

Posted on January 16, 2022 by the roused bear

I am mostly a warm weather photographer. Warm weather is when the good stuff is out. But there are things to see in the winter, too. So I waded out into my back yard through the deep snow to have … Continue reading →

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Butterflies at Reiman Gardens

Posted on December 19, 2021 by the roused bear

I volunteer in the butterfly wing at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa.  As a butterfly wing docent, I escort people into and out of the butterfly conservatory and ensure compliance with the conditions of the permit.  That means I help … Continue reading →

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Adventures with Butterflies–The Texas Butterfly Festival

Posted on November 5, 2021 by the roused bear

It is 1,264 miles from my home in Woodward, Iowa to the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas. Google Maps says you can drive it in 18 hours and 7 minutes. I just got back yesterday. You probably need to … Continue reading →

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In Awe of the Blue Morpho

Posted on October 1, 2021 by the roused bear

Since I retired I started doing a little bit of volunteer work at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa. I am a butterfly wing docent, which basically means I let people into and out of the butterfly wing, and prevent butterflies … Continue reading →

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I Break for Butterflies

Posted on August 18, 2021 by the roused bear

Today I had an errand to run, but as I was going to my garage I saw a butterfly. So I went back into the house to get my camera, and took a few photos. This is a red-spotted purple. … Continue reading →

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More Insects

Posted on July 27, 2021 by the roused bear

Summer allows me to get out, sometimes for just a few minutes a day and sometimes for much longer. The critters that are out are not too rare, but can be quite spectacular never the less. These cabbage white butterflies … Continue reading →

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A Tiny Moth

Posted on July 14, 2021 by the roused bear

Yesterday I found this tiny moth on the yarrow flowers in my back yard. It seems to be a clearwing moth, possibly in the genus Carmenta. Moths in that genus are typically leaf miners. It seemed very wasp-like in flight.

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