Date: 10/10/2009

Number: 1

October 26
Saw three monarch in about 10 minutes - but observed for at least 45 minutes. Saw a fourth near the end, much separated from the others. Most were at the south end of Gooseberry Island which is where I usually see them. However,these could have been released Monarchs from a breeder. See:http://wp.me/pDprt-6Y My observation time: I was watching for 45 minutes.

October 20
Saw 3 on an hour long walk around Gooseberry Island - however all three came in about 10 minutes of walking near the southern tip which seems to be the area they like the best. It was in the low 50s with clear skies in early afternoon, so plenty of time to get up flying energy. The previous two days I saw none in 45-minute walks on Gooseberry, but both days the temperature was around 40 and it was early morning.Also saw American Painted Lady and a couple of Cloudless Sulphurs. My observation time: I was watching for 1 hour.

October 14
Yesterday there were heavy rains. This morning I did a one hour circuit of Gooseberry Island in 40-degree temperatures and saw four monarchs in flight. (This is the same path I took a few days ago when I saw 147.) Interesting they were flying because it was less than three hours after sunrise - sky clear - and yet they apparently were still able to raise body temperatures 15 degrees. Amazing little beast! My observation time: I was watching for __1_ hours and __0_ minutes.

October 12
Bren and I walked around gooseberry ISland again - about 10 am in temperatures of about 50 degrees with sun and light winds - and saw 23 Monarchs. Many were basking, warming up their flight muscles. But just as many were flying. This is a significant drop from two days ago at the same location. My observation time: I was watching for 1 hour.

October 10
Saw 147 today - highest yet by far - in about a one hour walk. Nearly all of these were in the 30 minute stretch south of the towers on gooseberry Island where there was lots of goldenrod and some sun. Forecast for tomorrow is chilly. Details and pictures are here:

http://gooseberryjournal.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/gentlemen-and-monarchs-start-your-engines/ My observation time: I was watching for 1 hour.

October 8
Walked the Northeast Beach for about 30 minutes and saw 30 Monarchs. It was late in the afternoon (4 pm EDT),and skies were cloudy, but still warm enough for flight apparently. On 10/09 we had rain and I didn't do any observing. My observation time: I was watching for 30 minutes.

October 7
I saw five Monarch in about 15 minutes - nay a bit less. I was on the beach in the lee of the island because the wind was wicked - gusting well above 30mph from the west. The Monarchs showed more control over their flight than I thought they could under these conditions, but they were obviously having a hard time of it. Hope most of them just hunkered down. My observation time: I was watching for 15 minutes.October 6
I was out on Gooseberry again and in a relatively short walk - 20-to-0 minutes saw 29 Monarchs.While this is a few less than the day before when I saw 33, it came in about half the time over about half the territory. Pretty windy, too. My observation time: I was watching for 25 minutes.

October 5
Out on Gooseberry Island again and this time saw 33 Monarch in a walk of about 45 minutes duration. Surprising because it was quite windy - 10-15mph from west and much of the walk we were on the beach on the east side. Had several sighting in past three weeks, but usually only 2-4 Monarchs in this time period. Details and picture son my Web site here: http://gooseberryjournal.wordpress.com/

October 4
Saw a dozen Monarchs in about 30 minutes while walking on Gooseberry Island. Horseneck Beach State Reservation, Westport, MA. I've been walking there most days since mid-September and this is the first time I saw more than four. Usually I see one or two. My observation time: I was watching for 30 minutes.

Westport, MA

Latitude: 41.6 Longitude: -71.1

Observed by: Greg
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