Date: 04/18/2021

Number: 12

After a chilly night, by 11:30am it had warmed up to 61 degrees F. There was a mix of sun & clouds with a north wind gusting at 11mph. I saw several monarchs at that time. One was an elder with thin, tattery wings, who was nectaring from a yellow thistle. He also at times was "shivering" his wings ~ to warm them up I think. I also saw two bright-winged males sailing around. They too seemed chilly and did a lot of sunbathing and nectaring ~ but also flew around zestfully.

It was still cloudy with a strong north wind later in the afternoon ~ only warming up to 64 degrees F. I saw more monarchs about now, especially in the bottomland which was warmer and protected from the wind by the surrounding woodlands. It almost seemed magical as the sun came from behind the clouds sending warming currents ~ monarchs one by one would go aloft from wherever in the deep grasses they had been resting. I had been thinking no one was there … then there they were!

I also looked at some of the milkweed (a lot of which is flowering). I found some monarch eggs and also was able to find 1st through 5th instars.

This is a photo of the "shivering" male monarch nectaring & trying to catch some warming sun rays on this chilly, windy, cloudy day.

Montgomery, TX

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8

Observed by: Kathy
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