SIPPING NECTAR FROM THE WILD BERGAMOT FLOWER

This morning I wanted to try and find some monarch butterflies to photograph in the park. Over the past few years in this area, I have been seeing more and more of them and with the abundance of wildflowers including the common and swamp milkweed that they feed on, I knew there would be a good chance of seeing them. With my nikkor 300mm attached to the tripod, I moved through the park in search of the monarchs. It wasn't long before I seen my first one of the day, a male monarch butterfly stretching its wings as he basks in the warmth of the summer sunlight on this July morning at Wildflower Park. I was able to get very close and thought this was close enough to get some really good images so, I set up the tripod, being careful not to disturb him and cause it to flutter away, I composed the monarch in frame and fired off a few shots. This individual stayed for a few moments while I photographed him and then took to the wing in the morning light. I moved on from photographing the male monarch and not much further, was some wild bergamot or bee balm plants and with good fortune, I spotted another monarch sipping nectar of the wild bergamot flowers. I moved in closer and came within about fifteen feet of the monarch and with it moving about the flowers, I thought that this was close enough. I slowly set up the tripod, composed the monarch sipping nectar and started photographing. This monarch looks to be a female as it appears the veins are broader. (508-454)