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Saturday November 16, 2013
I am pleased to share today what I believe to be some of my finest work, the Mindo Butterflies.
We have a few shots at the Mindo Samay Juku Lodge where we stayed.
Then we headed to the Butterfly Conservatory. They actually raise butterflies from the caterpillar stage and it is really fascinating to watch. They have different pupae to conceal themselves in their environment, even looking like leaves or big water droplets. Then, watching a few new butterflies bursting out of their pupa, or chrysalis, was a thrill of a lifetime. The camera loved these creatures who were kind enough to pose for us, or even land us.
The trip from Mindo to Santo Domingo was very foggy as we rose, then descended to sea level and continued to Guayaquil where Maurice was catching his return flight to Canada.
Along the way we saw many large birds circling, very high in the sky and were wondering if we were catching glimpses of the Ecuadorian Condor. It wasn't very likely to be the condor, and that was confirmed later when we came upon a huge group of Black Vultures, apparently feeding on a discarded cow's belly full of undigested grass, completely revolting but yet riveting... This was truly a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds".
Hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al
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| Definitely rain forest vegetation and weather |
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| Gorgeous plant life |
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| Orlando enjoying the pool at Mindo Samay Juku Lodge |
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| The Lodge was a nice experience |
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| Outside comforts |
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| Interior of the church in Mindo |
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| Mindo kids playing a game |
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| They have no problem posing |
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| Night shot of the river running through Mindo |
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| We watched Ecuador play Argentina to a 0-0 result |
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| Ecuadorian artwork |
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| Lovely display on the coffee table |
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| They had many beautiful flowers on the grounds |
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| This is the Lodge |
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| This lady makes the best coffee in Ecuador |
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| She was a very sweet hostess |
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| Not a poinsettia?? with dew drops |
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| Rustic gate to the property |
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| Love this flower |
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| Ready for hummingbirds |
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| Dainty and delicate |
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| Also hummingbird receptacles... |
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| Such pretty colours |
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| Real dew drops, not fake |
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| We were hoping these were Ecuadorian Condors |
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| The entrance to the Butterfly Conservatory |
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| They have a lovely pond full of Koi |
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| More awesome plant life |
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| Caterpillars, after the egg stage |
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| The many different varieties of pupae, or chrysalis |
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| Hundreds of these here |
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| Great colours on the back side of the wings |
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| Many different varieties |
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| Maurice put some banana nectar on his finger to pick one up |
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| Our first glimpse of a newborn emerging |
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| Many different versions |
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| Some will sit with their wings open |
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| So tiny and fragile |
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| They are everywhere in here |
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| They enjoy smelling the flowers too |
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| The delicate beauty is inspiring |
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| They are difficult to catch in motion |
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| Luckily most of them stop to pose |
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| Yup, he's still here |
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| More great big fluted flowers here |
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| He is not letting go |
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| The underside of the wings are very different |
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| This young lady picked one up too |
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| Many different "eyes" on this one |
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| Love this particular flower |
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| Sweet innocence is felt in this place |
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| Many BF's attack a banana |
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| Who can resist this colour? |
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| Another rebirth into beauty |
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| And another.. Note the pupa style |
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| Serenity |
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| Wings of wonder |
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| Staking his claim |
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| Guarding his territory? |
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| Not sure if this is considered a Glasswing or not? |
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| Another one unfolding itself |
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| OMG, another one... |
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| And another small one too |
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| Pupa disguised as a water droplet |
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| Holy crow, another new one... |
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| Great surrondings |
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| Another fake Glasswing? |
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| A teeny, tiny flutterby |
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| Hanging on for dear life |
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| Many more attacking a banana |
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| They had some feeders near the entrance |
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| This little guy wasn't shy |
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| He drank his ration, and kept coming back |
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| The irridescence of hummers is a sight to behold |
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| And he is back again |
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| This bright yellow bird captured our attention |
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| He is most likely a Southern Yellow Grosbeak |
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| These little guys are insatiable |
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| I had not seen this variety before |
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| The Grosbeak showing off some more |
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| He has a lovely profile |
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| Who can ever tire of these guys? |
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| Indescribable beauty |
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| Two white-lines for visibility... |
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| Tropical forest as we descend to sea level |
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| Still hoping this is the Ecuadorian Condor |
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| A scene for Hithcock's "The Birds" |
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| Oodles of Black Vultures. Scary stuff... |
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| This is not a place to have a sudden cardiac arrest |
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| They were even fighting over dried leaves |
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| Their main entrant in the bird beauty contest |
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| Most were busy attacking something along the road |
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| It looked like a cow's belly, full of undigested grass |
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| Two guys bringing home a new TV?? |
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| Toying with a night shot of traffic. |
