Date: 10/04/2014

Number: 1

at., October 4
Dismal conditions for monarch migration- wind WNW at 19-21mph. Many were being blown out over the ocean. I couldn't bear to watch. Many were clinging to vegetation all day. I found individuals roosting at sunset on all types of plants, including weeping willow, wild black cherry, goldenrod, bayberry, and even the limbs of dead trees.

Sun. October 5

7-9AM, the line of storms finally arrived here, bringing a brief period of torrential rain and west wind gusts of 30mph.

9AM - noon, partly cloudy, humid, 68 degrees F, wind variable from SE and E
Ten volunteers, one refuge volunteer coordinator and I met at Parking lot 1 on the beach for the fall planting of seaside goldenrod. It was a hard-working group and all plants got planted and watered. It was also a lively and harmonious group, so everyone had fun. After we finished, we stood around talking and everyone smiled and cheered when a very ragged monarch appeared from out over the ocean and made a beeline for the blooms of the last plants we planted. Moments like that need no words so we all watched in awed silence. And moments like that make all the work of growing and nurturing the plants for nine months all worthwhile.

6:45 - 8:30 AM, clear skies, wind NW at 5mph, temp 51 degrees F
Arrived at the beach to find monarchs still roosting. Sunrise was at 6:58, but monarchs did not show any signs of basking or lifting off. Finally, at 8:15 w/ temp at 56, the first roosting monarch took flight and headed SW over Tom's Cove. The wind was still NW, but light enough that they were able to stay on course. All monarchs but one were deep orange in color except for one very worn one who had lost so many scales that he was a paler version of all the others. He must have been one of the ones who rode in on the storm's west winds.

10 - 11:30 AM, full sun, wind NW at 6mph, temp 59 degrees F
Monarchs are present in good numbers. Some are migrating, but most are nectaring. The ones in flight are getting carried on the wind out over the waves but are able to flap back to vegetation. Some are only going as far as the first wide barren wash-over zone, tuning around and back-tracking to the nearby clumps of seaside goldenrod. There is not much at this location, but every blooming plant has at least one monarch on it. None are tagged and wings look pristine.
I would like to tag them, but will not. Any disturbance makes them fly straight up and get caught in the winds again. I don't want to contribute to their loss of fat reserves. After fighting the high winds all day yesterday, they need to refuel. Other migrants include thousands of tree swallows zipping down the beach, lots of Peregrines who are stopping to hunt shorebirds, Merlin's and Kestrel who are feasting on huge grasshoppers, buckeyes ann green darners who are flying low. Just out of curiosity, I checked the wind speed at 1 foot off the ground anti it was 3mph, and checked again as high as my arm would reach and it was 6mph.

Chincoteague NWR, VA

Latitude: 38 Longitude: -75.3

Observed by: Denise
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