Date: 09/17/2010

Number: 1

A bit belatedly I thought to mention some nice sightings along the shores of the Rockaway peninsula of Queens County, N.Y. City on September 17, 2010 - many of these sightings were in a 2-hour period walking along Riis beach, that is to say while actually on the beach and in the surf line. The Monarchs in particular were really "motoring" along on a good northerly wind and there were constanty dozens, occasionally 50 or more in view at any instant in that mid-day time period. There were actually additional Monarchs seen in other area locations by two of us that day & the total numbers of Monarch butterflies seen that day easily exceeded 5,000 - for the day. I haven't seen that many other notes from elsewhere in the mid-Atlantic or northeastern regions to indicate whether that day was a particularly big day for that species southwesterly-directed migrations, or just a part of a relatively good season for the species. My guess (only) is that it was a very big day. We have good potential for big Monarch & other butterfly movements in the next several days with a possibility of southern-afinity species as well.

September 17, 2010 - sun & clouds, 60's-80 F., fresh wind from north.

Monarch (3,000+ - in just 2 hours watching from one location, plus ~2,000 additional on the day, total 5,000+)

Forwarded by Don Davis

Riis beach, NY

Latitude: 40.6 Longitude: -73.9

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