Date: 09/16/2017

Number: 1

I would just like to comment please. I have been reading about all the butterflies being seen and notice that many people don't realize that the millions, perhaps zillions, that have been and may be still being seen are not Monarchs but are, instead Painted Ladies. They are much smaller and totally different colors than Monarchs. There has been what might just as well be an "irruption" of them this year and I, for one would like to know just how wide spread it was. I have looked at many different areas on your maps and in Google and there were two hatches of them that just went everywhere.

Right here we have not seen a Monarch hatch yet and are still hoping. A mile from here there is a spot that we saw thousands of them. The first year it was on September 6th., the second year September 1st. To date we are still watching but we have had a big change in the weather and will not have warm sunshine until tomorrow.

The Monarchs and the hummingbirds all got stalled on the east side of the Coteau Hills when they migrated up last spring and were very late coming to our area because of late frosts etc. That is why we all think there will still be a later than usual hatch.

There are still Brown Thrashers, here. A Robin showed up this morning after there being none for some time due to the drought and no worms within reach. A House Wren also stopped by. Hummers are most likely gone now, though one never knows about stragglers. I have my feeders still out with fresh feed but that is only making the bees happy.

Sandy Freeman

Editor's note: the picture is showing Painted lady butterflies.

Britton, SD

Latitude: 45.8 Longitude: -97.6

Observed by: Sandy
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