Saturday , September 29, 2007 10AM to Noon
Spectacular migration day! Approximately 2,280 Monarchs per hour flying southwest along ocean shore. Most were flying low < 10 feet off the ground and fighting the wind to avoid being blown out over the ocean. At over wash areas - where there is no dune or vegetation to provide any protection from the wind - about one out of three were being swept out over the ocean. Some were able to make it back to shore with great effort.

Sunday, September 30, 2007
Many (hundreds) of the monarchs that were blown out to sea on strong NW winds on Friday and Saturday were seen returning back to shore this morning, Sunday, Sept 30, 2007. In a fixed position with spotting scope and binoculars, I counted one monarch returning to shore every 2.5 minutes. Later in the day, many monarchs were seen nectaring in the fields of Bidens laevis (large bur-marigold) just behind the primary dune. Their wings were tattered and torn and their abdomens were lean. Between 4-6pm, I walked 4 miles of shoreline at low tide looking for dead monarchs in the sand. I found only one. Its wings were ripped in several places. Local watermen told me monarchs had been landing to rest on their boats on 9/29 during the afternoon hours.

Monday, October 1, 2007
Hundreds of monarchs remain nectaring in the Bidens fields even though the wind is ideal to carry them off this island and back on course down the Delmarva Peninsula or the mainland. Some monarchs were netted for examination and tagging. Only a few had fat abdomens; most were still lean. I expect them to stay to nectar until they have built up some fat reserves.Wind ENE then E.