Pearl Crescent

As a bird photographer, there are seasons where the birds are plentiful and times when the birds are scarce. July and August are months when the migratory birds are nesting in northern regions and the hot days can quell the hardiest nature photographer’s desire to get out.

Mid-August is when the butterflies and bugs start coming out in full force. I have a few friends that love to photograph bugs, and frankly other than butterflies, I haven’t spent much time chasing the bug world. But it is intriguing, and certainly worth a look. There are some super cool bugs out there that are worth discovering.

Of course I would want to start with the butterflies, and I was able to find several monarchs, along with a monarch caterpillar. The story of the Monarch migration is nothing short of miraculous. How they manage to travel thousands of miles, with generations passing in the journey from Mexico to parts north is truly amazing.

Monarch butterfly

Monarch caterpillar

Along with the Monarchs, a solitary Zebra Swallowtail was dancing in the garden.

Zebra Swallowtail

Now that we have the darling flutterbys captured, it’s time to start looking at other life in the garden. A spider was working on a large web and a friend decided to help feed him and tossed a few caterpillars into the web. In short order the spider went and spun his silk around the caterpillar. He had one for lunch, and one for dinner. After securing them, the spider took a nice nap.

Black & Yellow Common Garden Spider

My bug photographer friend than showed me something I had never heard of before. This bug preys on other bugs and is non discriminatory on who he dines on. Allow me to show you the “Robber Fly.”

And what is more synonymous with summer than the Dragonfly?

So in the late summer and you’re looking for nature, look no further in the garden for life you’ve never seen before.

All of these images were captured with the Olympus OMD EM1 Mark II, with 300mm f/4 lens.