Date: 03/03/2006

Number: 1

I was working in a garden in south central Austin, TX (Bluebonnet and South Lamar) about one mile south of downtown, this afternoon (3-3-06) when a Monarch flew by. It was headed pretty much due north in directional flight. There were two kinds of Lantana blooming as well as daminantia. It did not hesitate or investigate, but continued its flight. I did not net it, nor did it necter or linger long enough for an absolute ID, but I think it was a reletively fresh female. The colors were vivid and the black veins were bold. It also appeared larger rather than smaller in size.

I began seeing larger butterflys (swallowtails, admirals, and sulfers) about a week ago.

It has been very warm/hot all winter. Yesterday it was nearly 85df, but a "cold front" blew through last night dropping today's high to 75df.

I have not been near wild milkweed yet this spring, but the milkweed in the gardens I tend has not broken ground. Let's hope teh wild milkweed is available. I'll be out this weekend looking for milkweed and monarchs.

March 5
I walked three sites yesterday and today. I did not find any Antelope Horns, our most common milk weed.

Austin, TX

Latitude: 30.2 Longitude: -97.7

Observed by:
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.