Date: 10/08/2016

Number: 257

Arrived at tip of Point Pelee National Park about 30 minutes prior sunset. Very strong NorthWest wind, sunny, approximately 14C. I did not hold out much hope for a roost with the wind direction and as it was the only day in well over a month that we did not see a Monarch in Essex County. (We have been averaging 5 per day.) We watched at least 6 individuals struggling against the wind, try to roost in single exposed trees on the west side ranging from Juniper, to Cottonwood to Hackberry. None were successful in the high wind. Observed one individual flapping northward but being carried South. Others were picked up and carried over the treetops to the East Beach. Met a friend leaving to resume her family Thanksgiving dinner who directed us to look in this season's roost tree. Along our way we spoke with another visitor who indicated she had seen about 30 trying to roost on the East Beach. With daylight waning we went directly to the Hackberry tree where we watched as more Monarchs joined a group already settled in on the leeward side at the very top. Observed three clusters and some singles. I did not realize how tightly they were clustered until I started counting. In virtually the same area of tree as our 175 roost from 10/02 I counted 257! Biggest we have seen this year in an unseasonably warm autumn. Predicted low at Leamington of 10C (5C away from the lake.) Frost warnings for Sunday night inland with lows of 2C but 10C near the lake. No tags seen. It is notable that the first Monarch we saw in Essex County was in August and the biggest numbers we are seeing at Pelee are in October.

Point Pelee National Park, ON

Latitude: 41.9 Longitude: -82.5

Observed by: Laura
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