Date: 09/06/2021

Number: 21

The last 3 days we have seen Monarchs flying all over our yard. Earlier today, we saw approximately 15 flying all around us at one point as we worked in the yard near a heavily wooded area. Several hours later, we saw 6 more. We were told by neighbors when we moved here in June 2020 that Monarchs migrate through this area but never noticed them like we have these last few days. We are looking for the presence of milkweed but are novices so we aren't adept at this yet.

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 09/08/21]:
We started seeing them on Sept 4 but we weren’t paying attention then. Only on Sept 6th when we were working right next to the woods did we notice how many there were.

Group of 15, 10:30am EST: The group of 15 were all seen in a 5 minute span. We have about 70 feet of woods running north/south along our side property line. I was gardening along that line and they were on the edge of the trees and shrubs. I started at one end and walked the length of the area and counted as I walked so I would not double-count any.

Group of 6, 1:30pm EST: All seen at the same moment when I looked up. Same wooded location.

The lot next to ours (to the West) is wooded. They were all within about 70 feet, right on the edge of the woods. We live on Lake Erie and this wooded section is about 60 feet back from the lake. (See photo)

I’m a novice so I don't think I would know egg laying behavior but I will research it for sure. They would sit on a leaf or a branch about 5-10 feet off the ground for a few minutes, then gently fly off of the leaf or branch about 10-15 feet into our yard (which is grass and a rhododendron bed), then return to another branch or leaf on the edge of those woods and stay there for a few minutes. Some would fly in pairs but then land on separate leaves. When they took off from a branch or leaf, they flitted around in a random (random to me) pattern right near my head but when they landed again in the woods it was almost always on a more southern leaf or branch. (further away from the lake). I would definitely say their overall direction was south, away from the lake.

The wind was from the south and very light, if at all, at the time. The lake was very flat because we had considered paddle boarding instead of doing yard work. It was sunny and the temperature was in the mid 70’s.

Sheffield Lake, OH

Latitude: 41.5 Longitude: -82.1

Observed by: Cindy
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