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Monday, October 12, 2009

Butterflies On The Mountain Trail






I know I've been going on and on about my recent trip but it wouldn't
be complete without mentioning the butterflies. I was busy taking photos
of flowers and really didn't think I'd walk down a mountain trail but
they did lead me down the mountain! Well, just a quarter of the trail
but in mountain terms, pretty intimidating! :)








Here's the first one. I've never seen this kind of butterfly before.
Although I've been googling a whole lot of images, I've yet to come
across its identity. What surprised me was that all the butterflies
landed on the dry rocky surface and puddled. Well, I've seen the
Emigrants and the Common crow butterflies do that but it's always on
wet sand. There's always something new to learn!!














The Common Sailor cruised around and landed near my feet! Back home
I need to follow them around to get a decent shot but look, it hasn't
even acknowledged my presence! If only others (in my yard) would
follow suit!














These tiny butterflies are common but this one is the darkest blue I've
ever seen!









And as I was there, capturing them for posterity, giant swirls of
mist rose from the valley below. For a few minutes, the place was
shrouded in mist-ery! And as suddenly as it had come, it vanished!
What a magical experience that was! Especially for something that
I do almost daily...shoot butterflies....but never in surroundings
as magnificent as this! Have I mentioned the whisper of the wind
on the mountain too....?!





22 comments:

Debra Howard said...

You can go on and on about your trip as far as I am concerned. I love reading about it and I love all the butterfly pictures.
Debbie

sweetbay said...

I have thoroughly enjoyed your posts describing your trip! Lovely butterflies. The weather in mountains is so amazing and changeable -- I love your description of the wind and rising mist.

Anonymous said...

I wish that I could have been on the mountain with you Kanak. The butterflies are amazing and that mist must have been magnificent. Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos with us. The view in the distance is so pretty.

CJ said...

Oh how beautiful!Please go on posting more pics of your trip.

What a beautiful experience to be covered with mist. I would love to visit the Himalaya and north-east some day

Noelle Johnson said...

How beautiful! I would love to see more butterfly photos. Some of the species pictured look familiar, but some I have never seen before.

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

The view on the first picture took my breath away! Amazing! I want to be a bird, or a butterfly to fly over there!

Urban Green said...

They are awesome. Kanak, you shouldn't bother about going on and going. We are loving it.

Unknown said...

Debbie, thank you for stopping by...very happy to read your comment!


Sweetbay, I'm so happy to know this. Before I posted this, I thought I should stop posting this series. but now I'm glad I did! :-)


Mildred, that'd have been wonderful! The common grass yellows were there too and the ones I couldn't photograph were the Glassy Tigers...too fast for me! I also realized that I just don't have the stamina to walk up and down the mountain path! LOL!


Chaitra, I hope you do! Then I can show you around. The similarity in the vegetation is almost the same all across the Himalayan foothills. Most houses in tiny villages have an array of begonias growing in their verandahs. Whether it's Bomdila in Arunachal or Smit in Meghalaya, the floral displays are the same!


azplantlady, I know some of them look very similar...been to a lot of websites the past few days. Finally, I've told myself to simply enjoy them;) Thanks for your kind comment.


Tatyana....I'm with you there!!! Thanks!


UG, thank you so much!! Have a pleasant day...Delhi must've cooled down a bit?

lotusleaf said...

I love to read your posts and the pictures are fabulous. You seem to have had a 'mystical' experience on the mountain trail.

Stephanie said...

Looks like these butterflies aren't afraid of cold weather. Amazing but wonder why they always like to land on the ground... taking a rest?

easygardener said...

The scenery is very impressive - especially when the mist shows up. Interesting that the butterflies like landing on rocks. Perhaps it is a little warmer there.

Susie said...

That looks like a wonderful place to explore Kanak. How beautiful! That trail would have invited me to follow it along for sure.

Thanks for sharing the pics of the butterflies.

Autumn Belle said...

Kanak, the butterfly in the first picture looks like it has got eyes. The mountain looks magical with the hanging mist. This is the Himalayas? It looks more like paradise!

Carol said...

What a steep climb along the mountain edge... thrilling in you photos ... real life must have been amazing. Your photo of the mist is wonderful as your words describing it all. I love all the butterflies. Thanks so for sharing your trip! I could see more and more of it. Carol

Jan said...

Hi Kanak,
It's nice to read about your excursions...it's very different than any I take here! It must be fun to see the butterflies land right in front of you, as if you aren't even there. Beautiful views and landscape--going down that path has got to be a lovely walk!

Unknown said...

Padma....Mystical? I like that!!!


Steph, taking in some nutrients, I suppose, but the on the rocky surface?!

EG, must be...wish I'd captured them all!

Susie, it did remind me of the mountain you climbed on your last trek. The treks will start soon now that the rainy season is over.


Autumn Belle...not the Himalayas but a beautiful range of hills in the neighbouring state of Meghalaya. Thanks for stopping by. And I'm glad you liked the photos.


Carol, I'm so glad to read this. Being in the open was a blessing I must say. The view of the mist reminded me of other magical views of nature...a rainbow, a full moon through the foliage...what we've seen a thousand times. And yet when it comes again it still makes us draw our breath, and look in wonder and amazement.


Jan, I hope to go back some day and actually walk the length of the trail! That'd be lovely. I'm glad you liked the views...happy to read your comment! Loved that you stopped by.

joey said...

You didn't miss a gift, dear Kanak ... including to honor the beautiful butterfly guides :)

Jessica - Magical Mundane said...

Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing your vacation with us.

Unknown said...

Thanks Joey and Jessica. Loved to have you here:-)

D said...

Kanak, beautiful butterflies, and that mountain trail is breathtaking, literally... and I wasn't even there. ;) Wonderful experience for you.

Unknown said...

Di....thanks a ton! hope to be there again some day.....

Dr.Susan Sharma said...

I have never seen any of the butterflies you photographed in our parts! Lovely photos.