Gulf Fritillary butterflies, photographed at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, California in October of last year:
The Gulf Fritillary has a range that extends through Central America, Mexico and the southern half of the United States.
A Lesser Goldfinch, photographed the same morning:
My next stop in Tucson was the Tohono Chul Gardens, a lovely botanic garden, shop, and cafe in northeast Tucson.
The morning I was there did not prove to be very birdy.
The best photo opportunity proved to be outside the entrance, where this Costa's Hummingbird was feeding:
Butterflies often have names as unusual as some bird names!
Here is a Soldier Tropical Queen, photographed a few minutes later:
More photos from the morning of November 2, in the hills southwest of Mexico City near the town of Milpa Alta.
The Hooded Yellowthroat looks nearly identical to the Common Yellowthroat, but my guide Anuar assured me that this bird's calls matched those of the Hooded Yellowthroat. The Hooded Yellowthroat, as well, is found in the dry highlands of central Mexico, and this bird was not near water, where the Common Yellowthroat is typically found. The Hooded Yellowthroat was one of the birds I most wanted to see!
Did you know that there are six separate yellowthroat species in Mexico?
Perhaps someday I will see all of them!
A Painted Lady butterfly:
Greater Pewee:
Least Flycatcher:
The Crescent-chested Warbler is found only in Mexico and three Central American countries.
I was thrilled to see another life-bird!
A Canyon Towhee rests upon a Nopal cactus:
Thanks again to Anuar López for two memorable mornings of birding!
This butterfly was photographed in Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, in April, 2019.
I believe that this is a white version of a female Orange Sulfur butterfly. Not sure about the flower!
Photographed in Sierra Valley in June of this year.
Photos from the Bird and Butterfly Garden, in the Tijuana River Valley, from April of this year:
Monarch Butterfly:
Probably a female Anna's Hummingbird:
Selasphorous (Allen's or Rufous) Hummingbird:
On the way to El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve, like many tourist attractions in Mexico, you run through a long gauntlet of souvenir vendors and eating establishments.
I love photographing colorful souvenirs, and there were plenty to see:
Michoacán's Monarch Butterfly preserves attract thousands of visitors per day during the winter season.
I visited the El Rosario preserve near the towns of Ocampo and Angangueo, in January of this year.
There is a steep hike or horseback ride to the area where the butterflies congregate, at the altitude of 10,000 feet.
The area where the butterflies are densest is cordoned off from visitors, but there is still a good view.
The atmosphere in the preserve was one of tranquility and even reverence. There are signs and volunteers urging silence, and the Sunday crowd definitely kept silent, in awe of the countless butterflies in the trees. Most of the butterflies were in hibernation, but many would alight on flowers, or sometimes, people!
Thousands of monarchs in one tree:
A closer view:
A monarch visits one of the docents:
More butterflies:
The Gulf Fritillary is a butterfly found throughout the southern United States and most of Mexico and Central America.
Here is one at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, California.
Photographed in September of last year.
Another, photographed at Lindo Lake in May of this year.
The California Tortoiseshell butterfly is found through most of the western United States.
Here is one perched on the handrail of a pedestrian bridge near the top of the Palm Springs Tramway in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Photographed in June of last year.
