Black Swallowtail

I don't think that I've ever seen this variety before! My oldest son pointed him out to me and I was able to fire off a couple of shots before he flew off. He was very twitchy. He also looks like he's been through the ringer; a little beat up. But, I'm just excited that the butterflies are back.

Best viewed large if you have time.

[Ann Stenson]

Amazing capture Tara! Fav : )

[Sjouk]

Fantastic capture !! Such gorgeous colors.

[katy]

I yearn to catch such a beautiful shot, Tara. This is gorgeous.

[Tara]

@annbo Thank you so much Ann - I appreciate your encouragement and fav!

[Tara]

@sjouk Thank you very much Sjouk!

[Pam Knowler]

Wow how exciting to see such a beautiful butterfly and to get such a gorgeous shot!! Fav!!

[Tara]

@grammyn Thank you Katy - I know what you mean. I'm constantly drooling over Carolyn White's @cjwhite shots and just today Andy Mason @cockoftherock posted an amazing shot of a Stonechat bird. Thank you as always for your comments and encouragement.

[Tara]

@pamknowler Thank you very Pam! I was very excited!

[Sarah Evans]

Beautiful, such a clear shot :)

[Tara]

@sarah_e Thanks so much Sarah!

[elkehochban]

Fantastic capture!

[Antonio Vigil]

beautiful!!!

[Sue Wilde]

Wonderful detail here

[summerfield]

this one's a beauty. i only see this in the niagara conservatory or at the zoo. great catch, tara.

[Tara]

@timandelke @jsvigil @swilde @summerfield Thank you all for your kind comments!

[👑 AnaZad]

Beautiful butterfly. Great capture. Thanks for the follow, and I am reciprocating.

[tony j sisti]

great capture and fine detail, some much beauty in nature, it's overwhelming, anmd your photo says it all!

[Lisa Pouncy]

Incredible close up. I love the slight blue on the wings xx

[Miley]

Love butterflies!

[Danny G.]

Exceptionally nice capture

[Doris]

Fabulous find!

[MaryBeth Dailey]

I mostly see yellow ones. He is gorgeous!

[Tara]

@espyetta Me too, that's why when I looked him up, I discovered that he was a Swallowtail. During the summer, I get a lot of Red Spotted Purples http://365project.org/tara11/365/2012-09-12

[MaryBeth Dailey]

In flight., yay! So cool! And they do love the azaleas! Fav for me!!!

[MaryBeth Dailey]

How did I put this alot your flying butterfly here? Oh well! I still think it's a flicker. ;0)

[Ann H. LeFevre]

Very pretty! Nice close-up. We have them around here but I don't see them as much next to the woods- more by the fields.

[Tara]

@anazad511 @tonyjsisti @psychographer @miley89 @soboy5 @twistergirl @olivetreeann
Thank you all for your kind comments. I was so tickled to see this guy. He was beautiful.

[Pam Hawkes]

Gorgeous!

[Tara]

@pamfromcalgary Thank you Pam!

[Janelle]

Wow what a great capture and nicely spotted!!

[Pyrrhula]

Awesome beautiful close up