the hills (and riverbanks) are alive

with the sight of Queen Alexandra's Sulphur butterflies. On my outings this weekend, on foot and bike, I saw thousands of these small lovelies.




Quoting Nature.com:

When these butterflies congregate by the score at damp earth following a Colorado mountain shower, the stationary green triangles and frenetic yellow blurs create a striking spectacle. This species is named for Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII of England, who also lent her name to the world's largest butterfly, Queen Alexandra's Birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) of Papua New Guinea.

(photos from google images, the beautiful second one from here.)

**UPDATE** I think some of them are Cabbage White Butterflies, less glamorous but still fun to watch.