Date: 09/22/2009

Number: 300

October 12

This morning (12 October) the temperature is 60 degrees with drizzle and calm winds. No major weather changes for the last couple of days. For the last couple of days I've had no more than 100 Monarchs. This morning I find about 50. I was hoping they would stay a little longer; guess not.

October 1
The Monarchs have been slowly increasing in number since my last update.
I don't know that having the water sprinklers on all week has had anything to do with the increase, but maybe. I do know that they have not come to the water as they have today. We've had very warm temperatures for the last three days which have been partly cloudy and sunny. The only difference is the cold front approaching. It is supposed to pass through the area some time late this evening or tonight. I hope its before dark so that I can see what happens. I'm attaching more images ; I have never see them in these numbers on the grass.

September 30
I took this image as a vehicle passed by and disturbed the Monarch resting in the pecan trees along the road.
They are very difficult to see in this photo. This represents a quarter of those in the area. Made this about 2:00pm today.

September 28
I did not see as many clusters of Monarchs this morning; they were in flight and scattered. We had a frontal passage about 08:45; I think many left ahead of the front. I've watched off and on most of the morning and there are still a lot staying over as well as traveling. The travelers are not that obvious but if you watch one can see a pattern of southerly flight.

They may be scattered now but I'll bet they cluster again this evening.
I know this will happen because I made a trip 180 miles north to Haskell, Tex. last Friday and saw Monarch all the way. They averaged about 1 per mile. The first thing I noticed upon arrival; was a Monarch roost as large as the one here. There are still many to pass through the this area.

September 27
Nothing much has changed except the numbers of Monarchs. I don't have any idea how many there are but there's a bunch.
Waiting on the next front to see what happens. I do believe the attached image has more Monarchs showing than any I've sent.

September 24
We had cloudy sky's with an ambient temperature of 60 degrees this morning with a line of lite showers move through the area at 10:00am.
Then the sun came out and the Monarchs began moving. Attached is an image that will give you another perspectives of the number Monarch.
As I walked among the trees they scattered and I made this image. I will make another when the numbers increase.

September 23
Thought the Monarchs had decreased in number in the morning and it sure looked so. But, they were back in the evening with a slight increase in numbers.

September 22
After a frontal passage Sept. 22, began watching for Monarchs. About 6:00pm the 22nd. I observed one to three Monarchs every five seconds coming from the north. Later in the evening I found six clusters of fifty plus in the trees in my yard; just the beginning.

I have attached several images that I made this evening. It

seems that the majority of Monarchs in these shots are male.
Should this be expected??

San Angelo, TX

Latitude: 31.6 Longitude: -100.5

Observed by: Fredrick
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