Date: 09/23/2021

Number: 35

14:30 September 23 visited the clover field near the south-west corner of Sherk and Oak Streets. Strong gusty South wind, light rain, 11°C. I located the five monarchs seen roosting yesterday and found six more for a total of 11 Almost all were perched on spent flowerheads of Queen Anne’s Lace, although I did find one on a fresh Queen Anne’s Lace. There was one area on the east side of the field and another area near the north-west corner where five and three respectively, were sighted close to each other or on the same flowerhead.

Here’s the conundrum. Arrived at this same location adjacent to the Leamington Greenway just south of Oak Street at 08:20 on September 24 to look for the roost. Sunny, blue sky 14°C (overnight low was 10°C) West wind 19 km/hr gusting to 28 km/h. Immediately noticed Monarchs with their wings open warming themselves in the sun perched with an eastern exposure in the lee of the West wind on leaves of Cottonwood, Maple, English Beech, Spruce and Pine trees. The largest group (5) located on the east side of a Spruce tree. A few were puddling in the dew on the grass.

Next, I headed east to the clover field and checked the locations where they were on the afternoon of the 23rd. Only one sighted on a Queen Anne’s Lace flowerhead in a shaded exposure. Some Monarchs were disturbed out of the field by my walking near them. Near the end of my hour surveying this location I noted two Monarchs fly from the clover field to sun in the Spruce trees. Hypothesising that when the sun struck them this morning they left the clover to perch in these trees.

An interesting point is that the weather has not been favourable for them to leave this location and I located 39 in this same location a number of days ago. It should also be noted that both myself and a friend of mine, at separate times, checked the trees for roosting monarchs over the last couple of days and were unable to find any.

Also, one Monarch left the clover field, tried to fly south-west but once it gained a little altitude it was immediately carried high and east while facing into the West wind. When I left some Monarchs were already settling in to stay with their wings closed and making themselves a lot less obvious. Observations done with binoculars and the naked eye.

Leamington, ON

Latitude: 42 Longitude: -82.6

Observed by: Laura
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.