Date: 09/07/2019

Number: 200

Saw several clumps of Monarchs gathered in trees. Others were nectaring on goldenrod and white snakeroot. Others flying around. I saw them about noon and went back in the early evening. I was able to tag 20 of them for Monarch Watch.

Editor's note: contacted observer for more details on this sighting

I started getting Messenger texts & emails from friends about 10:30 AM on Saturday (9/7). I'm not sure what time they first noticed the Monarchs. Someone said "they were not here yesterday". I did not get to Headlands Dunes until about noon, then went back from 5 to 8 pm. This is historically a pretty good place for Monarchs to come across Lake Erie. One of the Monarchs I tagged at Headlands Dunes on August 31, 2007, was recovered in El Rosario. The truly amazing thing (I think) is that I know of two other people who were also tagging Monarchs at the Dunes that same day, although we didn't run into each other. All three of us had a Monarch that we tagged that day at the Dunes recovered in El Rosario!

To estimate the number of adults, I counted 22 flying, there were 2 or 3 groups in trees of about 30 or 40 Monarchs each that I could see. (I forgot my binoculars the first time I went.) There were about 30 nectaring on goldenrod and white snakeroot. There were also smaller groups in trees and shrubs -- 2 or 3 up to 10 on bare branches. I also saw people taking pictures of other trees.

The overnight temperatures on Friday were in the mid-50's. Saturday morning was cool and overcast. The sun peaked in and out and came out in the afternoon. Other people told me the Monarchs were gone on Sunday.

There was a pretty good breeze from the South or South Southwest early on Saturday. I wish I would have written down the weather conditions. I remember checking the weather and thinking the Monarchs might stay for a day or two if the wind continued stray out of the South. The monarchs were shielded from the wind in this location. This is a sandy beach that gives way to low windswept grasses that becomes goldenrod and white snakeroot with cottonwood and other trees. There are large trees over a grassy picnic area. Most of the Monarchs were in the large trees.

Headlands Dunes, OH

Latitude: 41.8 Longitude: -81.3

Observed by: Mary Ann
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