Date: 11/02/2017

Number: 72

Because we’ve had a hard freeze, especially at higher elevations, I assumed that the migration was over in the southern Appalachian mountains. But this morning when I saw a monarch feeding on pansies at the North Carolina Arboretum I thought, maybe not. So, being fairly close already, I drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway to Cherry Gap Overlook (4327 feet elevation), a historically reliable place for monarchs to cross the high ridges. Arrived at 12:18 pm and right away saw four monarchs floating overhead in a line. It was partly cloudy, with a airflow from the west, but with southerly breezes at ground level, until later when it was calm. Some of the earlier monarchs had to fight their way over, and one or two got pushed back or sideways until they eventually made it. The temperature ranged from between 60 and 70 degrees F. It was exciting to see the butterflies this late in the year, the so-called Day of the Dead when the first ones are supposed to arrive in the mountains in Mexico. Once these butterflies reach the lowlands of South Carolina, they will have a better chance of making it all the way, provided they can find food sources. There are few if any in the mountain region here now. I left at 1:41 pm. The photo isn’t from today since I didn’t have my camera with me, but it’s from 10/18/17 at our milkweed and zinnia garden east of Asheville.

Canton, NC

Latitude: 35.3 Longitude: -82.8

Observed by: Mickey
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