It has been four days since I photographed this Gulf Fritillary butterfly, which was around the time I noticed my external hard drive was way too full.
Gulf Fritillary butterfly in Arkansas
The hard drive has been giving me a difficult time, and I wanted to edit more of my photos of this striking longwing butterfly to share. I haven’t done that yet, as I’m still slowly working through the external hard drive issue.
But perhaps the Universe was giving me a reason for my delay in sharing this Gulf Fritillary image. I used to see and try to photograph this species of longwing butterfly when I lived in Florida. I lived just half a block from Tampa Bay.
I say ‘try’ because I never really succeeded enough for those photos to meet my quality standards.
Like many people, I’ve been focused on the horrifically tragic results of Hurricane Helene in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Where I lived in Tampa? That area was flooded because of the storm surge caused by Hurricane Helene.
I’ve also been watching powerful Hurricane Milton very closely because it’s heading right toward Tampa as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico. My son Chris and his wife, Sabrina, live not too far from Tampa, but further inland.
I still have friends in Florida, including my best friend Patty and her family, and I’m concerned about all of them.
I remember all the work that had to be done before hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida—the stress of evacuating and not knowing what would be there when you returned.
All the worry before, during, and after the storms passed, and the damage they caused to homes, businesses, and the places I went to find and photograph birds.
This Gulf Fritillary reminds me of the beauty of Florida’s Gulf Coast and, yes, even the dangers of living there.
I’ll be on pins and needles until Hurricane Milton passes over Florida and moves out into the Atlantic Ocean. Thinking of my loved ones there.
Mia
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Beautiful photo. Yes I have been watching the hurricanes too. Haley’s husband’s family lives in Sarasota. I also worry about the 100,000s of migrating birds. Bad timing!
I also once lived in Tampa a couple blocks from the bay just north of the causeway to Clearwater. I remember the storm drains would back up during hard rains and fill the streets with water. I fear our old house is toast this time. Your stories about the area especially Fort De Soto always remind of what a beautiful area it is.
I hope your family & friends are safe after Helene & during Milton. The butterfly is beautiful.
From this side of the world my heart goes out to those who endured Helene and have Milton looming.
Thank you for this incredibly beautiful butterfly.