Date: 10/19/2017

Number: 50

I was on Dauphin Island for 8 days, and I was counting monarchs on several full days outside. They were traveling in the dune areas, just above high tide line, but some out over the water just offshore. Saw many feeding on flowers and resting but most moving fast east/southeast with a brisk northeast wind helping push them along. The peak days were Oct 18 and 19, and by Oct. 20-21-22, they were rare.

We saw lots of Gulf Fritillaries, too (but no other species that I saw), and I was careful not to count any butterfly that we did not positively identify. It didn't occur to me to get photos, plus I don't usually carry my camera or phone on the beach. But we were positive that they were monarchs. I found one dead one on the beach and it was definitely a monarch - you can't mistake the size or pattern. I was surprised at how many there were traveling down the coast. We watched one monarch land in the sand in front of our chairs, rest for about 5 minutes, then take off straight out into the Gulf. We followed it with our eyes as long as we could.....just fascinating.

Dauphin Island, AL

Latitude: 30.3 Longitude: -88.1

Observed by: Karen
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