Date: 04/25/2018

Number: 7

At around 1:30pm my son alerted me that there was a bright-winged monarch in the front yard. Wonderful! He was such a contrast to the other monarchs that he stood out almost like another species! At this time it was partly cloudy, 81 degrees F, 55% humidity, with light SW winds. At the same time as I saw this bright-winged fellow, I also saw three other monarchs flying and nectaring.

At around 4pm the temperature dropped to 74 degrees F, it became overcast with rain threatening, the winds changed to NNE, and the humidity rose to 66%. As I went out in the pasture to check on milkweed, I saw male monarchs flying and nectaring ... but then I spotted a fluttering low monarch ... could it be a female thinking of laying eggs? I hadn't seen a female monarch (for sure) in many days, though I was still finding eggs. It was indeed a lovely, tattered-winged female valiantly continuing her mission and seeking good milkweed to lay her eggs on. As I began to follow her, the wind soon picked up, the sky darkened and rain drops began, so she flew high and into the trees. I did get one not-so-good photo of her inspecting a milkweed ~ her expression of distaste on finding bugs on it is apparent ~ she wasn't going to waste her time on that one.

This is a photo of the fresh-winged male monarch as he nectared this afternoon from the blooms of our potted butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii).

Montgomery, TX

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8

Observed by: Kathy
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