Date: 10/13/2006

Number: 1

Ba Rea and I traveled from Eagle Pass to Boerne (north of San Antonio) today between noon and 4 p.m. We passed north of the Anacacho Ranch west of Uvalde where we began spotting monarchs at 16 per minute at 55 mph. That was at 12:40.

The flow increased to about 40 per mile at the Border Patrol check point at Cline's Corners.
Most miles we were encountering 33.

East of Uvalde between Knippa and Sabinal was the heaviest concentration.

Winds were moving at 10-17 mph from 75 to 80 degrees heading on the compass. Monarchs were quartering into that and moving just west of south.

We pulled off the road on a hill and ed out the binoculars. Most monarchs were moving over at about 15-30' off the ground, but with binocs, we were able to pick out others up 75-100' in the air.

The monarch front was almost 65 miles wide. I got out the map and backtracked along their reverse heading. These guys must have over-nighted just south of Leakey last night. There were thousands on the move.

At Hondo, we turned north to Bandera, then went east out of Bandera to Boerne.

At dusk at the Cibolo Nature Center we were still seeing 1 every 2 minutes or so. The were stopping to nectar on the Maxmillian sunflowers, which have made quite a showing this fall. Snow on the Mountain is also blooming widely with huisache daisy and several other composites common.

A. asperula was widespread on the roadside after we left Bandera.

Definite chill in the air here in Boerne tonight.

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Uvalde, TX

Latitude: 29.3 Longitude: -99.9

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