Date: 09/10/2017

Number: 101

Headed one hour east of Toronto to the north shore of Lake Ontario. Cool winds out of the northwest changed to southwest as the day progressed. As the day progressed, temperatures in this sheltered area became quite warm.

From the moment I arrived, monarchs were dropping in on the declining buddleia and flowering tropical milkweed as they headed west, some looking as if they were going to stop but just kept going. Some would trail in by 2's, 3's and occasionally 4's. Initially they appeared to be heading westward along this Lake Ontario beach and some make a right turn to drop into the garden, while later in the day they appeared to be arriving from the north. By about 2 pm, the migration slowed right down.

Very flighty, easily disturbed and some would take took off if they detected any movement. Still....managed to capture 101 monarchs to tag, with many others missed or simply heading west and more focused migrating. The 101 were captured in about 3.5 hours.

Nights will continue to be cool, with radio reports predicting Toronto temperatures from 5 C to 8 tonight. Days will continue to warm up during the next three days.

Dropped into an agricultural field to the east of this location with many tender milkweeds that emerged after a mowing. Collected 16 first and second instar caterpillars, taking only this number and not looking for more. I noted that some monarchs are now nectaring on goldenrods..

Toronto, ON

Latitude: 43.8 Longitude: -79.2

Observed by:
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