We had thunderstorms coming in from all directions this afternoon. The thunderstorm that built up over the Sandias was the most dramatic. While out on a walk before the storms, I encountered a little bit of wildlife.
Buckeye Butterfly
This video of the Great Purple Hairstreak Butterfly shows how it moves the flanges on the ends of its wings while it feeds. I assume it’s to fool predators into going after the flanges on its wings, giving it a chance to escape.
Blue Hairstreak
Silver kitty
Thunderstorm activity to the north.
Off Center & Not Even 
Wow, Tim, I love that wings on that butterfly. The clouds are beautiful when storms are around. Your flowers and gardens are stunning and full of life. Hope you have a wonderful week! 🙂
Thanks, Michelle. You too.
Oh, Tim, so much varied beauty! Thanks.
Hi Susan. I put a lot in. Otherwise most of it would never get posted.
Yes, I have personal experience with that problem too. 🙂
Beautiful captures, Tim, love the stormy atmosphere! Silver looks so comfy in his green hide-out.
Silver was following me around the property, and hiding out in the grasses along the way. Thanks, Leah!
Thanks, Tim.
This did my nephelococcygia and a nemophilist tendencies no-end of good!
That’s good. Thanks, Inchcock.
A beautiful video and collection of photos. And thank you for that last one of the lighting. You know I love to see photos of lightning!
Thanks, Lavinia!
Whoa! You got the lightening.
Thanks, Cindy!
Amazing sky.
Thanks, Rabirius.
STUNNING captures, Timothy! Your cloudscapes took my breath away. And I’m with Cindy. Whoa! You got lightning. Way to go!!
Thanks, Amy Rose.
So welcome!!
Thanks for introducing the Great Purple Hairstreak & it’s flanges, that is neat. All are great photos!
Thanks, Dawn.
Wonderful shots of your local wildlife Tim, especially the elusive silver kitty!
Thanks, Tiffany.
Meteorology is utterly fascinating….especially thunderstorms and the way they develop vertically with such enormous energy. Also your butterfly photographs are excellent as usual.
Thunderstorms develop really quickly out here. You can watch the clouds billowing as they build up to 30,000 to 40,000 feet giants. They dissipate as quickly as they develop.
We get some dramatic thunderstorms here in the tropics too as the dry season transitions into the wet during November and December. Enjoy your storm season so long as you don’t get tornados as well. That would be scary…..we don’t have them here…..just cyclones.
Tornadoes are rare in the valley and mountainous areas, but we get them on the plains, especially in the Great Plains states, where we get the warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico colliding with the cold dry air coming down from Canada behind the jet stream.
Great wildlife! Seems storms roll in, then out very quickly?
As gorgeous as the birds, bees and butterflies are, Silver kitty is the best, stalking in the stalks!
Silver is a show stealer. Thanks, Resa!
An aptly named beauty!
Hi Tim super photos … you know I’m a cloud fan! And that butterfly .. its wings are amazing. Nature has certainly equipped it well. Oh silver kitty .. how photogenic you are 🙂
Thanks, Julie.
Whoa! Those storm clouds are incredible, Timothy. And I really liked the video of the Great Purple Hairstreak Butterfly showing how it moves its flanges. I have never in my life seen any butterfly with those extra leg-looking extensions.
Thanks, Jet. They are fascinating butterflies.