Admire the Admiral

These 2 butterflies with different wing patterns are the same species: the blue one in the first photo is the southern version called a red-spotted purple. 

The white banded one in the second pic belongs to the northern population called white admirals (Limenitis arthemis).

This tribe of butterflies hold their forelegs curled up when they land (seen in this photo - that's not its proboscis), and their antennae out straight

We also noticed that their flight was very low to the ground, and occurred in short bursts most of the time, making them very hard to follow around or predict where they might land.