Monarchs are reaching overwintering sites in California but in lower numbers so far this year. That’s punctuated in Pacific Grove, where over 6,000 monarchs were spotted on Nov. 3 last year. This year, just 18 monarchs were spotted during a count on Nov. 1.

It was a late season across much of the continent, and a heat wave seemed to slow monarch movement throughout the fall, so it remains to be seen whether that delay will continue and sightings will pick up in the coming days or weeks.