Purgatory Creek Butterflies

It looks like this winter is going to be a lot more like the winters that I remember as a kid then the ones that we have had for the past 10 years or so. For most of this week the temps have been below zero here, and that does not include windchill factors in the minus 20 to minus 40 range. Some of birders in the area like to hibernate when the temps get that low but I get bored sitting around the house too much and so I have been out birding on the days that I got out of work early enough. It is just a matter of dressing properly for the weather. Unfortunately the birds have not been that cooperative, they are probably smart enough to get out of the cold, and so the photographic opportunities this week has been kind of skimpy.
So I thought that I would post some colorful butterflies to help cheer people up.
The first two shots are pictures of a bronze copper, the first with wings folded and the second with its wings spread.
All of these pics where taken at Purgatory Creek back in August. The last three pics are monarchs.
I heard on the weather report that this cold front has extended down as far as Florida and Texas. I do not think that it will affect the migrant monarch population, which spend the winter hibernating in southern California and Mexico.
I miss color. During the winter things are so white around here. With white snow on the ground, white salt on the cars, white ice on the lakes, and often times white clouds in the sky. I am already ready for spring. Maybe next year I will get Michelle plane tickets to a fun winter destination for Christmas.