Date: 09/22/2014

Number: 350

11 AM, wind WNW at 17 mph (according to weather.com)

Monarchs are migrating along the primary dune and getting blown out to the ocean's edge and then must flap to get back to vegetation or to a wind buffer.

Wind remained strong for most of the day until late afternoon when it became NW at 12 mph. Monarch flight was constant all day. My unofficial counts throughout the day averaged about 50 monarchs per hour. At 6 PM I started noticing monarchs coming down to nectar on seaside goldenrod, and around 6:45 a few monarchs were seen flying down the streets of the neighborhood at Cape May Point, looking for roost sites. I found a few Eastern red-cedar trees with small roosts forming.

All told, I was observing for 7 hours (11-6), so an estimate of 350 monarchs is about right.

I did not see any tagged monarchs, and the ones I netted were in pristine condition.

It was a good day for all migrants particularly the falcons. Kestrels, merlins and peregrine falcons stole the show, and at one point I had three peregrines in one binocular view. Other migrants included osprey, black saddlebags, green darner, spot-winged glider, wandering glider, common buckeye, and painted lady.

It's important to note that my counts were unofficial. The official counts were conducted by the Cape May Monitoring Project team by driving a transect 3X daily.  I haven't looked, but I would guess their average numbers were lower than mine, since they were limited to a view from a car windshield. I want to be sure to mention them, and all the good work they are doing collecting data and educating visitors.

Editor's Note: We are estimating 350 monarchs counted, based on the observation period of 7 hours @ 50 monarchs per hour.

Cape May Point, NJ

Latitude: 38.9 Longitude: -75

Observed by: Denise
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