Animals

Serendipity and Monarchs

Posted by Ellie

Update 2018

We have had a lot of monarchs on our milkweed in our own garden this year and I managed to get several more photos of the gorgeous caterpillars. They are all on the gallery linked to the monarch butterfly photos. Enjoy!

Here is one of the new caterpillar photos, taken with my phone:

2 Monarch butterfly caterpillars - Ellie Kennard 2018
2 Monarch butterfly caterpillars – Ellie Kennard 2018

Original post:

One Monarch butterfly has been teasing us for a couple of weeks. On our usual walks, along the edge of the woods, this orange beauty would dance about just out of reach, flying high up into a tree as soon as we got near. One solitary insect might not seem much, but with no sightings in the past few years, that single bright fragile creature flitting among the bushes was enough to give us a thrill. And we wondered at times if it was the same one, or if there were, perhaps two or three, in different locations around the trail.

Female Monarch Butterfly on wildflowers #3, Canning, NS - Ellie Kennard 2016
Female Monarch Butterfly on wildflowers #3, Canning, NS – Ellie Kennard 2016


What was it that prompted me?

What was it that prompted me to go for a walk with my long lens on this particular day? I was just about to lend this particular lens to my friend who was considering buying a similar one, so she could see if it would give her the kind of range she wanted. First though, I thought I would go for a quick walk and take a few photos to show her what she might expect. Joni was (as always) my first model  (turn the page or scroll down to keep reading…)

Continue reading →

Relax, Just Be Yourself, Try to Act Naturally, Joni!

Posted by Ellie

Joni is always my favourite model when it comes to trying out new photographic techniques. This time it was a new lens – in fact a new to me second hand, old fashioned lens. As I was working how to use it to best advantage, I said to Joni “Relax, just be yourself. Don’t pose.” This was the photo I got.

Be yourself Joni, act naturally - Ellie Kennard 2016
Be yourself Joni, act naturally – Ellie Kennard 2016

So then I said to her, “Don’t be so self-conscious, just try to act naturally.” She shifted position and this was Continue reading →

Joni Hiding in Full View

Posted by Ellie

Joni hiding in full view - Ellie Kennard 2016
Joni hiding in full view – Ellie Kennard 2016

Border collies know how to hide themselves in short grass, waiting for the unsuspecting potential Frisbee thrower to pass by. They disguise themselves in dandelion heads and you can barely see them. Well, you can almost barely see them.

 

In honour of +Heidi Anne Morris‘s great event #dogweekend and for the just past #nationaldogday

 

Check this out on Google+

Northern Crescent Butterfly

Posted by Ellie

Pearl Crescent Butterfly, Phyciodes tharos - Ellie Kennard 2016
Northern Crescent Butterfly, Phyciodes cocyta – Ellie Kennard 2016

Phyciodes cocyta

This is a common butterfly around here in the summer, but I was really pleased to get this photo of it as it rested on the path. The patterns on its wings are finely drawn and the tips of its antennae are tiny orange balls (hard to see in this photo, to be fair). Rupert (our Cornish Rex cat) tried to catch it and almost succeeded (which is what drew it to my attention) but I managed to save it and put it safely out of his reach (he is on a long leash) so it could get over the shock and fly away. Have a lovely week everyone, full of lovely butterflies!