Date: 04/09/2017

Number: 30

From 4 pm on, monarchs continued northward, aided by the south wind. I saw 8 to 10 along our sand road.

Then, at sunset, more monarchs streamed in to roost in the hedgerow or the trees and shrubs in my parents' yard and shelterbelt. My count of 30 roosting is an approximation because they were streaming in all around to find roosting places.  

In my parents' yard are 3 London Plane (sycamores) and I followed Monarchs roosting on them a couple times, also not yet leafed out, but one roosted on a dry seed ball.  

There is a row of lilac shrubs just in bloom that Monarchs nectared on, and I also saw a Monarch nectaring on an apple tree that's in full bloom.

There are also some scotch pines in the shelterbelt which some Monarchs may have roosted in, although I did not track any there.   There is a leafed weeping cherry in the yard, too, but I didn't see any Monarchs land there.  

I got photos of a Monarch on a lilac blossom and one on an apple blossom, and also on that landed in the grass lawn.  

There is also a hedgerow across the road where some stayed (osage orange, not yet leafed out).  

My observations, unfortunately, were a bit helter-skelter due to caring for my aging parents while I'm in Kansas.  But it was so exciting to see them here this spring.

Updated comments on April 12: I was surprised to see any alive after the 36 degree frost and heavy dew yesterday morning (April 11).  

Walton, KS

Latitude: 38.1 Longitude: -97.3

Observed by: Linda
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