Date: 09/30/2018

Number: 31

Hello all: The last three days here have seen the most visible monarch migration activity I have seen this year. One’s and two’s in a few small waves only, up til this past weekend where I had 11 monarchs drop in late in the day yesterday to nectar on the flowering asters and goldenrods in my yard (Waystation 04511).

Four monarchs in my yard again as early as 8 am and more through out the day - three or four staying through the cloudy afternoon and the last one just leaving just as rain began for what I think must be a roosting area (heading northeast back to the forest and away from my yard) in the face of a strong south west wind.

For the last three days monarchs have been coming early in the morning and leaving after an hour or so in a southwest direction - slipping up and over my neighbors house. Still others drop in throughout the day and stay until 5:30 and fly back in two the northeast.

Today, while doing a botanical inventory in saltmarsh, and maritime shrub communities on West Island, I counted 22 monarchs in one hour nectaring on seaside goldenrod. Most were in the upper saltmarsh on the lee side of the wind but a few were on low plants out in the wind and hanging on.

Interestingly, some the asters and goldenrods are either late to flower this year or staying in flower later. Not sure which. Usually I observe higher monarch numbers earlier, but often the New England asters (their asters of choice!) have gone by before the main wave of monarchs come by. This year NE asters are still in bloom at my way station in great profusion and there are still several other asters just beginning to flower.

Also the seaside goldenrod is in full and early bloom here on October 1 - did everything flower late because of the drought? I don’t know.

The weather in September changed dramatically from hot (early) to cool and cloudy and I didn’t observe any monarchs moving for days at a stretch. The last three days were sunny (if windy) and we have more warm temps promised for the end of the week after two days of rain. Hope the migration continues then.

I do enjoy seeing the monarchs on the asters. You have to wait all year for goldenrods and asters to bloom but when they do they are much enjoyed by all sorts of insects and pollinators - especially the monarchs, who look like orange jewels hanging from the purple and yellow flowers. So beautiful.

Louise Barteau
Waystation 04511
West Island, Buzzards Bay
Fairhaven, MA

Fairhaven, MA

Latitude: 41.6 Longitude: -70.9

Observed by: Louise
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