Date: 09/20/2015

Number: 1

I saw my first monarch of the season today in Monterey, CA at approximately 12:40 P.M. It appeared to be a lone monarch because I looked for others and saw none. I will, if time allows, go back to this location later today or in the evening tomorrow to see if there are others. The area in question is a eucalyptus grove just off the Recreation Trail in Monterey; there are also Monterey pine, Monterey cypress and coastal live oak in the immediate area.
I was at a small known winter roost sight in Monterey, across the street from the Del Monte Ave. entrance to the Naval Postgraduate School. I frequently walk on the adjacent recreation trail.

With California and much of the west in a drought situation the biggest concerns for the monarchs this year will likely be access to moisture. I have checked 2 of their 3 known puddling sites in and near Monterey; one site has no moisture at all, the other site checked seems to have a consistent supply of moisture, hopefully that will continue. I plan to check the third site in Monterey and in Pacific Grove as time allows. The monarchs in Pacific Grove often visit the nearby golf course to puddle I have been told so there should be a consistent supply of moisture in Pacific Grove.

The drought in California hasn't killed off all of the monarchs nectar sources, there are several known nectar sources still blooming and some fall blooming nectar sources just starting to bloom which is really good news. The plants aren't as vigorous as in the past but they are still blooming. If additional nectar is still needed by the monarchs before dispause there appears to be a fairly large supply. This became a concern because many plants bloomed early and some hardly bloomed at all this year.
I follow the monarchs in hopes of finding suitable nectar sources for them.

Monterey, CA

Latitude: 36.6 Longitude: -121.8

Observed by: Maureen
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.