Date: 09/27/2004

Number: 1

My Monarch count proceeds it's its singular quanity! Another lone Monarch dropped from the evening sky to settle quickly high in a catalpa tree. My eyes have always sensed movement mindlessly. Terribly distracting in some ways but a blessing for butterfly counting and deer dodging. One more southbound traveler noted and cherished. I miss seeing them approach like an orange cloud, wings backlit by the setting sun. It's been two years since a large flight of them settled into the catalpa grove! I miss the jostling and wing talking about accomodations. Last night's traveler struck a melancoly note that echoded back to the last passenger pigeon. Do butterflies feel lonely?

Temp
was around 70* and time was about 6:15. Another cloudless, sunny day
with highs around 78. Conditions extremely dry, even the golden rod is
drying up. You can almost hear the brown lawns and meadows crisping. Dust
stirs in even grassy areas when you walk. My garden flowers are lingering
only because of the silver touch from the hose.

Sunset is around 7:30 right now, so I was a little surprised to see the
golden bug going to bed so early. Another quick drop and stop,
no gliding nor investigating. That seems different from past migrations. My
migrators are probably having a hard time and probably going to bed both
hungry and thirsty. Western Michigan is becoming a desert!

Marne, MI

Latitude: 43.1 Longitude: -85.8

Observed by:
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