Date: 03/30/2021

Number: 18

Lots of monarchs here again today ~ very active. By 10:10 am it was 69 degrees F, cloudy with some sun peeking through at times, breezy, and 90% humidity (the grass still wet with dew). The monarchs were out and about flying, nectaring, sunning, and egg-laying.

More of the thistles have opened & many of the monarchs were getting their "morning coffee power-up" at the thistle fountains. And if you are nectaring intensely, you don't want to be bothered. At times a second monarch would attempt to horn in on a thistle already occupied ~~ a quick flash of the wings usually did the trick (works for bumblebees too).

I followed and observed two different lady monarchs as they lay eggs on milkweed. The first was seeking milkweed in a brambly area (blackberry vines running along the ground). She found many new milkweed sprouts to lay eggs on ~ taking her time, resting between and sunbathing. Very peaceful. At one point she landed a foot from my foot and rested with wings spread to catch a bit of sunlight on this cloudy day.

The second lady monarch I found egg-laying was in a lush grassy area with some fresh milkweed here and there, some quite hidden in the grass. Again, she took her time, nectaring on blackberry blossoms, then checking a milkweed, resting, then laying some eggs climbing around the plant to place eggs on the underside of leaves. Very thorough and precise. She too rested and sunbathed ~ she at times delicately adjusted the angle of her wings toward the warmth on this cloudy day. Very peaceful.

Throughout the rest of the day I saw active monarchs: flying, chasing, nectaring, resting/sunning, females looking for milkweed & egg-laying. The temperature got up to 82 degrees F, it stayed cloudy & breezy, with humidity at 60%. Lovely monarch weather conditions.

This is a photo of the monarch I observed laying eggs on fresh milkweed sprouts in the blackberry brambly patch. It was a joy to be near her!

Montgomery, TX

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8

Observed by: Kathy
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