Date: 08/28/2009

Number: 40

Long story, but I'll (try to!) make it short. Bottom line is, I saw a wonderful Monarch roost form this evening, two miles east of East Farmington, WI. The roost was about 40 Monarchs that formed in a tree standing with a few others in an unplowed clump the size of a small yard.......located near the northern edge of a 40 acre ripe alfalfa field.
Using binoculars to look halfway across the sunlit field, I first saw a single butterfly go towards the clump of trees and disappear. Then I spotted another Monarch, and yet another. I was able to follow the third one into the tree where the roost was developing, and from 300 yards away, I saw the burst of orange in the sunlight as the new Monarch entered the cluster and they fluttered their wings as they do.
I knew instantly that it was a cluster.
The farmer who was cutting and raking the alfalfa was nearby, and I was able to signal his attention. He stopped and I ran across the field to him, got permission to go over to the clump of trees (and found out, luckily, that he wasn't going to cut over there this evening).
About five minutes later, I was there. The wind was strong, but the light was wonderful. It was still early in the evening with a cold night coming on hard. I videotaped and took still pictures until sunset.
Don't know if I'll see another roost this year, but that one will do me.
What an hour of joy.
Wish you could have been there.

East Farmington, WI

Latitude: 45.3 Longitude: -92.7

Observed by: Pat
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