Date: 10/07/2017

Number: 86

I counted 86 in the trees just as it was getting dark. I'm sure that there were more that I did not see. Saw one episode of two small butterflies chasing a monarch off a tree branch.

October 8: The first roost we had was Saturday (October 7) and they have been coming in a few at a time every night--just considerably more last night (October 7). I noticed them in the yard in late afternoon, around 5. They finally stopped feeding and started clustering, mostly on mesquites last night, about 6:30--7pm. It was getting dark when I made the count, and only a few were still fluttering in the trees, looking for their spot. Most of them get in clusters hanging down from lower branches; one had 24 butterflies in it. Our 5 acre corner of the fields where we farm is a certified wildlife area with National Wildlife, Xerces, and also a Monarch Waystation.

We are located in the midst of wide open fields, now full of cotton about ready to harvest. Very little is blooming, just occasional Mexican hats and a few of the little white native asters. Our yard, however, has sunflowers, lots of blue mist flower, Turks' cap, asters, lantana, salvia, etc. We also leave lots of dead stalks to provide some shelter from wind. We try to be ready for spring and fall migrations.

We had a cool front yesterday morning at about 4; daytime temp around 85, last night 55. It warmed quickly this morning. The winds were light by mid-afternoon but had switched to south from earlier when out of the north. The trees are thick enough on the West side of the house in an old pasture to provide good cover from the wind. I think the rare cluster of trees is part of what draws them into our place. They are here in varying numbers nearly every year.

We led our Master Naturalist hike at the Abilene State Park yesterday morning, about 60 miles south of us, hoping to have a few Monarchs roosting in the pecan trees. We didn't see a single one, but the north wind was pretty strong at that point.

Stamford, TX

Latitude: 32.9 Longitude: -99.8

Observed by: Marianne
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