Monarch butterfly

Seen at the Calgary Zoo, but wish I had seen it in the wild. It is extremely unusual to see a wild one here and I had longed for the last few years to see one. So, I was thrilled yesterday to hear a little boy in the new Enmax Conservatory tell his Mom that he could see a Monarch. Of all the butterflies in the room, this was the only one that was not opening its wings at all - and, then, suddenly it did, for just a moment!! Jacket, fleece jacket and a sweater were not what I should have been wearing in the warm, tropical atmosphere of this room - but it was SO worth it : ). And now, after only two and a half hours sleep last night, and hours of sunshine and fresh air all day, I can't keep awake.

My alarm went off at 5:40 a.m. this morning and I have been out almost all day today, doing a nature exploration of the wooded areas of the grounds of a Golf Course outside the city, recording everything seen (birds, plants, lichens, insects, etc.). It got up to 18C today, but thankfully our walk was very slow-paced. I know I, for one, need to gradually build up to tougher walks and hikes after the last seven sedentary months, LOL.