Bugs and Butterflies on Virginia's Eastern Shore (Comments) (Link It) -- Jotted Down on Aug 27, 2007 05:10:58. Butterfly Comments by Dorothy Perrucci Butterflies are fascinating to watch because of their beauty and grace. Over the past couple of years I have spent countless hours photographing them. And after collecting all the photos, I spent countless more hours trying to identify each butterfly. The butterflies shown on these pages were photographed either in my neighbor’s gardens or my own back and front yard. On a sunny day, I can stand on my front porch and watch monarchs, tiger swallowtails, painted ladies, and skippers. We now have a dozen butterfly bushes in our yard and only planted 4 of these, the rest are volunteers. My thanks to the birds and insects that helped with this propagation. One of the best local butterfly guides is Butterflies of Delmarva by the late Dr. Elton N. Woodbury. This little volume contains wonderful color photographs and descriptive text that includes information on the range, habitat and food sources of the pictured butterflies. It also contains tips on photographing butterflies and the plants that attract them My equipment is digital, a Fuji S7000 camera with macro capability and most recently a new Pentax digital SLR coupled with a 100mm macro lens. Both cameras are 6 MP models and this is more than sufficient for my needs. I own several tripods, but never use one when I’m photographing butterflies because I prefer to handhold my equipment and usually have to move fast to follow my subject. Dorothy Perrucci Onleyimages(at)verizon(dot)net Dorothy Perrucci Chincoteague Island (Comments) (Link It) -- Jotted Down on Aug 7, 2007 05:58:13. Notes on Chincoteague by Craig Banks Chincoteague Island is the largest town on Virginia's eastern shore. Like Wachapreague and other waterfront towns, Chincoteague has a history deeply connected with the waters of the Atlantic. First settled around 1700, the principal industry was commercial fishing, especially oystering. Later a poultry industry thrived. In March of 1962, storm waters flooded the island, impacting property and industry in the small town. Many of the downtown buildings were damaged or destroyed. The residents repaired the damage but the poultry industry never rebounded from the disaster. Chincoteague Island is perhaps best known for it's ponies. Marguerite Henry's bestselling book "Misty of Chincoteague" introduced the world to the wild ponies of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. According to legend the herd descended from horses shipwrecked when a Spanish galleon sank off the coast of this close knit island town. Chincoteague is well known for it's fishing opportunities. Many vacationers try their hand at the sport, and some anglers come to the island specifically to fish the local waters. Anglers may target flounder, croakers and other inshore fish, or perhaps experience deep sea fishing for tuna, sharks, billfish and other big game fish. The tourism industry is booming in this small town. The combination of attractions include Chincoteague Island Wildlife Refuge, the Assateague Lighthouse, the pristine beaches of Assateague Island, the wild ponies, annual pony swim, firemans carnival and more.  The island is currently in a state of flux, as growth affects the island similar to the rest of the eastern shore. Real estate there has become very expensive, which has closed some businesses and created opportunities for new ventures. Many of the small properties have been acquired and the current trend leans towards construction of waterfront condominiums. The changes on the island reflect it's evolution from a quiet fishing village to a well known vacation attraction. Fish houses are becoming seafood restaurants, old homes turn to beds and breakfasts, and stores now line the main street offering a wide variety of artwork, foods, clothing and gifts. Much more information about Chincoteague Island Virginia is available at www.chincoteague-island.net Craig Banks