Date: 11/11/2017

Number: 300

I observed around 300 Monarchs in fields around Cable Mill between 11:30-2:00 PM. Caught and tagged 7. Could have tagged many more but ran out of tags. At times I could see more than 10 at a time low to the ground and high in the sky.

We can see monarchs this late in the season and sometimes even in December but these numbers are unusual.  We usually only see one or two, here and there. 

Sorry but I didn't get any photos. The sky was mostly sunny and temps between 39-50. Light breeze from w-sw. I saw my first flying Monarch about 1115 am and the temperature on my car thermometer was 39! I saw four others flying low or landing along field edges before I got to the Cable Mill area. I was at Cable Mill from 1130-1350. The fields around the Cable Mill area in Cades Cove were all mowed in August and used for parking or program site for the eclipse. Most of the grass is fescue with some red clover but I didn't find any clover with flowers. I saw a number land in grass or on leaves but observed no flowering plants since we have had a few frosts in Cades Cove. I later went to Sparks Lane where we have tagged many Monarchs and saw only one there in about 15 minutes and it was quite high. These fields had not been mowed.

The Monarchs were all flying in a general westerly direction. Most were 3-10' above the ground but some were above treetops and a few very high and difficult to see without binoculars. At times I could see 6-8 within 100 yards of where I was helping with a sorghum demonstration. The elevation in Cades Cove is about 1,800 feet. Once the Monarchs passed by/over Cable Mill they had many miles to fly over forests in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee National Forest. Sunday was very overcast and I did not go into the park. I will go again tomorrow and will report if I see any more. Weather yesterday and today is cloud, amp and about 50 degrees.

I was in Cades Cove on 10/24, 10/27/, 10/31, 11/3 & 11/10 and some days didn't see any Monarchs. On 11/10 I only saw 2 Monarchs and both were flying quite high over the fields. On 11/2 I was up on the Foothills Parkway and saw 3 Monarchs flying at about 3,000 feet elevation - it was sunny and about 60 degrees.

Capturing and tagging Monarchs in the Cable Mill area allowed me to talk with over 100 people about Monarchs and their migration to Mexico. Of course seeing an old guy running around with a butterfly net can get ones attention! I will let you know what I see tomorrow.

Townsend, TN

Latitude: 35.6 Longitude: -83.8

Observed by: Warren
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