Date: 07/26/2021

Number: 88

Monarchs are migrating earlier than usual this year! I observed 11 monarchs in directional flight from 4' to 40' overhead. They were heading WSW before the Wind turned from the West to Northeast between 10:15 AM to 1:15 PM. They traveled in a very straight line for 100' to 300' before going over the top of trees. These monarchs I observed at my other 12 locations today. Yesterday, at the other 6 locations, I counted 38. Today I counted 88! I also had a net gain of 39 monarchs today. Only 3 monarchs had faded wings of the 88 seen today. The rest had bright orange to deep red-orange wings like the photo enclosed. The earliest directional flight before today was back on August 11th, 2015. I have been keeping records since 2010. The weather the last two days have been sunny with the Wind NW-6 mph turning to the NE-5 MPH. The Temperature has been in the mid-80's. This now ends my summer season with the directional flights. I recorded 321 monarchs this summer which broke the record of 253 in 2019. I will now count only the very bright orange winged monarchs going into the fall season.

Harrisville, MI

Latitude: 44.7 Longitude: -83.3

Observed by: Frank
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