Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: upper side

Another of the beautiful butterflies that I have been lucky enough to see at the Enmax Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. What this species lacks in brilliant colour, it certainly makes up for in intricate design! Wing span is 2 3/4 - 3 3/8 inches (7 - 8.6 cm). "Adults rest on tree trunks head downward with their wings spread open. Males perch on trees and make a cracking sound when they dart out at passing insects (and people) .... Range: Argentina north through tropical America to Mexico. A rare stray to the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas." www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1809 The last but one time that I visited the Calgary Zoo was on 6 October 2015. I used to go fairly often, but my usual parking lot and Zoo entrance then closed for the winter. Since then, road construction and bridge replacement have been going on, but have now been completed. The drive to the north entrance of the Zoo is definitely out of my driving comfort zone, so I had been waiting for this day for a long time. June 26th 2018 was THE day - for me and for half the people in the city!! It was packed! I had decided to go before schools close for the summer. However, I suspect some schools had end-of-term Zoo visits on this day. Also, when I checked the weather forecast, rain was in the forecast for the next six days, so I knew i needed to go straight away. My visit only covered about half the Zoo, as I usually spend a lot of time in the Conservatory, enjoying the plants and tropical butterflies. My daughter had taken a photo of a gigantic lily pad, Victoria Water Lily / Victoria amazonica, and I really wanted to see it. There were three or four of these in a tiny pool. I love the pattern on the underside of the upturned edge of each lily pad, I didn't see a huge variety of butterfly species that day, but there were enough to keep me happily clicking for a while. They vary from day to day, as new butterflies emerge from their chrysalises.. My intention had not been to visit the newly arrived Panda family, as I was sure there would be an extremely long line-up. However, I could see that there was no line-up at all and I was able to just walk in, which was great. How lucky we are to have these four amazing animals visit our Zoo. They were in an inside enclosure, full of plants - and Bamboo, of course. I'm not sure how many hours a day these animals sleep, but two of the three that could be seen slept for part of the time I was there. Had to smile at the very uncomfortable positions in which they slept. Part of the enclosure has glass, which made it almost impossible to get photos without the reflections of the crowds of people. The Bactrian Camel had recently given birth to a baby, named Gobi - such a cute little thing. No sign of the Red Pandas when I passed their enclosure. One of the birds I love to see - though these birds tend to hide! - is the amazing Himalayan Monal. The male, especially, takes my breath away each time I see it. A few hours well spent happily clicking. Hopefully, it won't be almost three years before my next visit, though the west entrance does close each winter. It felt so good to once again be back in a place full of colour and interest.

LOL, a more accurate view of this small Anglewing butterfly, of it sitting on friend David's finger! For some reason, butterflies seem to like being on his hands : ) Seen on 22nd August in West Bragg Creek Provincial Park. Not sure if it's a Green Comma.

When I was at the Calgary Zoo on 6 October 2012, one of the workers in the butterfly room was wearing this cast (?), on which this beautiful butterfly rested. The young man said that the insect was not doing very well and he was trying to move it to a bowl of fruit. However, the butterfly really didn't want to leave this new kind of perch that it had found : ) Eventually, there was success - so I do hope it sucked up some new energy and survived. I couldn't miss an opportunity for a different kind of shot, of course. I think they say that having a butterfly land on you is good luck, so hopefully this man's arm will heal extra fast. Not sure, but I think this butterfly is a Scarlet Swallowtail / Papilio rumanzovia. Thanks, Art (Leapfrog!) for the ID confirmation - much appreciated, as always!

One needs a lot of patience to capture some of the amazing butterflies in the Calgary Zoo's Enmax Conservatory. They either land on a far from photogenic window ledge or land and immedicately close their wings. Sometimes, one is lucky enough for spread wings AND a vividly coloured plant : ) Haven't ID'd this one yet. We are back to winter again - more rain and snow and strong winds today and a miserable next few days' forecast, too. MUST work on my Taxes this evening!!! I seem to have said that before, LOL.

Another of the beautiful butterflies that I have been lucky enough to see at the Enmax Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. What this species lacks in brilliant colour, it certainly makes up for in intricate design! Wing span is 2 3/4 - 3 3/8 inches (7 - 8.6 cm). "Adults rest on tree trunks head downward with their wings spread open. Males perch on trees and make a cracking sound when they dart out at passing insects (and people) .... Range: Argentina north through tropical America to Mexico. A rare stray to the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas." www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1809 It's SNOWING again today, only lightly at the moment. Winds are really strong again and temperature is 0C.

Can you imagine a brighter display of flowers than this - and to have a beautiful butterfly (with wings spread!) at rest on them? Can't remember the name of this butterfly off hand, but I love the zigzag wing edges. Needed something bright on this unpleasant, snowy day - and yes, this IS May, LOL! Seen in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. I think the ID is Cethosia biblis, Red Lacewing. Anyone else having a few problems with Flickr today? Seems very quiet - and I keep getting empty boxes with red Xs with some photostreams. If I go back and access the page again, all seems fine.

Not sure if this is one of those dead leaf butterflies - haven't had a chance to ID it yet. Seen at the Calgary Zoo in their new tropical butterfly room in the ENMAX Conservatory. And now I need to go and get myself ready to go with a friend north west of the city to the Water Valley area. This is where Sandhill Cranes have been reported recently, as well as Great Gray Owls and even a Barred Owl (or was it a Boreal???) Keeping my fingers crossed for the Cranes in particular ... but you know how it is, LOL. I think this butterfly may be a Chocolate Pansy/Chocolate Soldier, Junonia iphita.

This small butterfly landed on a nearby rock when I was walking along a narrow trail at Forgetmenot Pond, at the end of Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), Kananaskis, yesterday afternoon and eventually posed with wings spread - after a lot of wing flapping : )