I’m sharing four Common Buckeye butterfly photos this morning. These images were taken at beautiful Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oklahoma.
Common Buckeye butterfly nectaring on white flowers – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/800, ISO 1000, Canon RF 100-500mm at 500m, natural light
Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge consists of bottomlands, hardwood forests, wetlands, the shoreline of the Arkansas River, and agricultural fields which supports many birds and other wildlife including several species of butterflies.
Common Buckeye butterfly resting in morning light – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/800, ISO 320, Canon RF 100-500mm at 500m, natural light
One of the most abundant species of butterflies at the refuge, while I was there anyway, was the Common Buckeye butterfly. I saw them wherever there were wildflowers blooming. Even though birds are my primary subject, I can’t and don’t resist photographing other wildlife on my journeys.
Common Buckeye butterfly resting on Common Hedge Parsley – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/800, ISO 400, Canon RF 100-500mm at 500m, natural light
When I stopped to photograph some of the Common Buckeye butterflies on clumps of white wildflowers I wasn’t sure what the flowers were but they reminded me of Queen Anne’s Lace, a member of the carrot family. I’ve since keyed out the white flowers and they are Common Hedge Parsley plants which are also members of the carrot family.
Common Hedge Parsley is an introduced plant native to Europe. It is known by several names including Common Hedge Parsley, Spreading Hedge Parsley, Tall Sock-destroyer, and Field Hedge Parsley. I saw buckeyes, fritillaries, skippers and other butterfly species nectaring from the lacy, white flowers of this plant.
Common Buckeye nectaring on Common Hedge Parsley – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/800, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Canon RF 100-500mm at 500m, natural light
To take these Common Buckeye butterfly photographs I jumped out of my friend Steve Creek’s pickup, stood along the edge of the gravel road, and handheld the camera as the butterflies flitted around in front of me.
These Common Buckeyes and the other butterflies were a joy to see in motion on my visits to the refuge.
Life is good.
Mia
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Glorious! Rich colors with air-tight detail makes for an incredible group of shots. Marvelous. Thanks Mia.
Thank you. I love the flutterbyes and am also tickled with the alternative name of tall sock destroyer for the Hedge Parsley.
These are beautiful, I have not seen a buckeye before. The spots have beautiful colors.
I am so glad to learn of Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. I grew up in Norman, Oklahoma but left for college and work before it was developed. —Jeri
Really gorgeous creature!-Jeri