The rare Charaxes butterfly.

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(Edited)

I posted one two years ago and here's another one this morning.
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Looks very much like a Citrus Swallowtail, but the wing patterns are totally different and this is a rare Charaxes butterfly. A bonus is that I also got the rare White-backed Mousebird again this morning.
So come and look.

He posed for a couple of shots in our lemon tree and I nervously grabbed the opportunity.
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Difficult to determine if it is the Protea Emperor, (Charaxes pelias), or the White-barred Charaxes, (Charaxes brutus natalensis), but I know that this is a young one, as the white blocks on the wings have just started yellowing.
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This is a look at his other side and thankfully he posed majestically.
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Now here was a surprise, as a small Acraea red butterfly tried to bomb the Charaxes in his territory.
And then the Charaxes was gone.
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Finally here was the White backed Mousebird in an apple tree.
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The Charaxes.
The Charaxes used to be confined to the subtropical east coast and northern enscarpment and savannah. In the last 10 years, however, it has spread rapidly, colonizing cities as far afield as Cape Town.
Source: Book, Gardening for Butterflies, ISBN 078-1-77584-124-1

The White-backed Mousebird.
The white-backed mousebird (Colius colius) is a large species of mousebird. It is distributed in western and central regions of southern Africa from Namibia and southern Botswana eastwards to Central Transvaal and the eastern Cape. This mousebird prefers scrubby dry habitats, such as thornveld, fynbos scrub and semi-desert.
Source

Surprisingly the Charaxes and the White-backed Mousebird are now also in the Southern Cape and many say that it is to do with global warming effects.
Birds and butterflies are relocating to new areas with fruit.

Important notice!
We don't use any poisons in our garden. A poison free garden will attract many life forms.

I am so glad that I could get them on camera this morning.

And That's All Friends!

Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX60HS Bridge camera.

Thank you kindly for supporting a post on behalf of @papilloncharity

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21 comments
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@Papilloncharity the photography that you share is very beautiful, I think you are quite happy when you get quality pictures, I have to learn a lot from you, I am also a photography lover and also a variety of photography that I really like including macro photography

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Thank you and I am glad that you like my photos.
In my book photography has 3 main requirements, a sharp eye, talent and patience.
There are many techniques to learn in photography and you look young enough to learn most of them, but I believe that practice makes perfect.
So all of the best to you in your photographic journey.

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Thank you @papilloncharity I continue to study and learn to improve the quality of photogaraphy even though the road I have taken is difficult, but I will always remember the advice you gave today.
Photography has 3 main requirements, sharp eyes, talent and patience.
How wise are your words,
Once again I thank you, you deserve to be a great teacher.

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Thank you and no, I am not a teacher my friend, just a man that knows a bit about life.
My pleasure to help you.

!BEER

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I have no idea what type of butterfly it is but i do know it is so beautiful
I had never heard of or seen a mousebird a little beauty

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A butterfly with a very ancient history mate.
@johannpiber knows that this particular mousebird was the last piece n my puzzle, as I have photos of the other two species and thought that I would never get this mousebird to complete the series.

This one lives far away at the west of country, but for some reason, I think food, they are down south here now. So I am happy.

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In the last 10 years, however, it has spread rapidly, colonizing cities as far afield as Cape Town.

Is this a positive thing or could it be considered a plague in the years to come?

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Who knows what will materialize with these strange weather patterns?
Those butterflies have an ancient history and we can expect anything.

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Spectacular! What a beautiful butterfly. Nervous or not you captured them perfectly

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Thank you and I have posted the Charaxes before as they fascinate me. They are thought to have the longest heritage line since the ancient ages. Pleiades era, or something like that.

!PIZZA

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Really?! Fascinating. I've never seen them in our parts. Mind you butterflies are only returning in the recent year or two

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Really! It is said that the strange weather patterns forced them to relocate. Maybe their food in the dry areas disappeared.
I think that it is the same in your area as they are also relocating from their former places.

!BEER

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