{"id":48219,"date":"2017-08-23T05:37:20","date_gmt":"2017-08-23T11:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=48219"},"modified":"2024-09-15T12:14:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-15T17:14:40","slug":"rocky-mountain-bee-plant-monarch-butterfly-in-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/08\/23\/rocky-mountain-bee-plant-monarch-butterfly-in-flight\/","title":{"rendered":"Rocky Mountain Bee Plant & Monarch Butterfly In Flight"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MonarchMonarch Butterfly flying towards a Rocky Mountain Bee Plant – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Photographing birds while they are flying can be challenging and photographing Monarch Butterflies in flight can be just as challenging to do too. The Monarch Butterflies have a loopy kind of flight that can be difficult to predict and to track with a long lens. Last Friday I was able to take photos of a Monarch Butterfly as it flew towards a Rocky Mountain Bee Plant on Antelope Island and as it landed on the wildflowers to feed on the nectar.<\/p>\n

\"MonarchMonarch Butterfly in flight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

These images are about a 50% crop and although I wish I had been closer I am happy with the sharpness, fine details and the way they turned out. I liked the creamy background and the angle of the light. When I took this particular photo I still wasn’t sure the butterfly was going to land on this bee plant but I hoped that it would.<\/p>\n

\"MonarchMonarch Butterfly landing on a Rocky Mountain Bee Plant – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

And then I noticed that the Monarch was using its wings to slow down its flight and it was then that I knew it was going to land. These butterflies land to take nectar from the wildflowers unlike the White-lined Sphinx Moths<\/span><\/a> which hover over the flowers to feed.<\/p>\n

\"MonarchMonarch Butterfly after landing on a Rocky Mountain Bee Plant – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I was delighted that I was able to photograph this beautiful butterfly in flight and that once the Monarch had landed on the Rocky Mountain Bee Plant I was able to take a nice series of photos of it feeding on the flowers.<\/p>\n

Sure it is not a bird but it is still a gorgeous thing with wings.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my flower, shrub and tree photos. Click here<\/span><\/a> to see my insect and spider photo galleries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photographing birds while they are flying can be challenging and photographing Monarch Butterflies in flight can be just as challenging to do too. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":134621,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[511,1022,1171,26],"tags":[6041,6042,12222,6040,4052,4123,1172,3912,4444,3896,4307],"class_list":["post-48219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-davis-county-utah","category-monarch-butterflies","category-utah","tag-butterflies","tag-butterfly","tag-cleomella-serrulata","tag-danaus-plexippus","tag-flight","tag-landing","tag-monarch-butterfly","tag-nectar","tag-rocky-mountain-bee-plant","tag-wildflower","tag-wildflowers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/monarch-butterfly-flight-mia-mcpherson-5916.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-cxJ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":53362,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/08\/05\/monarch-butterflies-and-rocky-mountain-bee-plants-in-northern-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":48219,"position":0},"title":"Monarch Butterflies and Rocky Mountain Bee Plants in Northern Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Last year I found plenty of Monarch Butterflies on the Rocky Mountain Bee Plants on Antelope Island and they were a delight to photograph as they fluttered around going from flower to flower sipping nectar from the delicate blossoms.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Monarch Butterfly nectaring from a Rocky Mountain Bee Plant, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, 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Plants","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I'd forgotten about this Painted Lady butterfly I photographed in August of 2017 that I found while photographing hummingbirds on Antelope Island State Park.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Painted Lady butterfly on Rocky Mountain Bee Plant, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/painted-lady-on-rocky-mountain-bee-plant-mia-mcpherson-6402.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/painted-lady-on-rocky-mountain-bee-plant-mia-mcpherson-6402.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/painted-lady-on-rocky-mountain-bee-plant-mia-mcpherson-6402.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/painted-lady-on-rocky-mountain-bee-plant-mia-mcpherson-6402.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9316,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/08\/29\/calliope-hummingbirds\/","url_meta":{"origin":48219,"position":3},"title":"Calliope Hummingbirds","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 29, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I believe these are Calliope Hummingbirds but if I am wrong please do not hesitate to correct me, I don't get upset about things like that.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State 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I've got a few female Monarch butterfly images I\u2019ve been meaning to share but I hadn\u2019t edited them until now. This morning seems perfect!","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Monarch butterfly nectaring on flowers, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/monarch-butterfly-female-mia-mcpherson-7412.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/monarch-butterfly-female-mia-mcpherson-7412.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/monarch-butterfly-female-mia-mcpherson-7412.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/monarch-butterfly-female-mia-mcpherson-7412.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":141709,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/03\/16\/monarchs-at-a-crossroads-in-an-era-of-butterfly-decline\/","url_meta":{"origin":48219,"position":5},"title":"Monarchs At A Crossroads In An Era Of Butterfly Decline","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The contrasting fates of eastern and western Monarchs underscore that their future is still uncertain. With dedicated efforts, we can help butterfly populations rebound\u2014but time is running out.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female Monarch butterfly feeds on purple flowers, showcasing its distinctive orange and black wing pattern, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/monarch-butterfly-adult-female-mia-mcpherson-7435.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/monarch-butterfly-adult-female-mia-mcpherson-7435.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/monarch-butterfly-adult-female-mia-mcpherson-7435.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/monarch-butterfly-adult-female-mia-mcpherson-7435.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/134621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}