Date: 10/02/2016

Number: 135

The peak migration may have passed, but we were surprised by the strong numbers. At Cherry Gap overlook we counted 21 from 1:50 PM until 2:05 PM (84/hour). We then drove to the Caney Fork overlook. We didn’t see any monarchs flying in, though there were a dozen or more feeding on asters, goldenrod, and joe-pye weed. We met a couple people there from Charlotte who were tagging. It was sunny, and tourists were observing monarchs and taking pictures. Then we returned to Cherry Gap. It didn’t seem like we’d see many at all—I was thinking the day was getting too cold, but then the breeze died away and a steady stream of monarchs began cruising up from the north valley and passing overhead, some quite high. We counted 135 between 4:00 PM and 4:30 PM (270/hour), and the flow remained steady for another half hour. At about 5:30 PM the numbers began tapering off. Some of the monarchs would catch a micro-thermal and loop back in it to gain a few feet in elevation as they passed, and a few settled in the chestnut oaks for the night. Temps during the day ranged from about 80 degrees to 65 degrees F. Sunny to cloudy. Light breezes from the NW.

Cherry Gap, NC

Latitude: 35.3 Longitude: -82.8

Observed by: Mickey
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