Date: 09/26/2021

Number: 35

My friend, John Sullivan, called me to report seeing 35 Monarchs near the campground and boat ramp area, with 10-15 Monarchs already in the trees where they like to roost. Tomorrow at sunrise would be a good time to see this remarkable sight.

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 09/27/21]:

This week, I am sending Monarch reports from Salisbury Beach State Reservation, a known Monarch roosting site for at least the last five years, as well as Monarch reports from Boston, Ma. This year, I sent a report from Salisbury on 9/12/21, when I was at the site actually counting the Monarchs; there were 162. I have been a member of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club and have been doing butterfly counts for about seven years.

This week, a friend who lives in the area, has been going to the Salisbury site at sunrise each day, then returning in the late afternoon to evening to photograph the Monarchs. He has been sending me an estimated report of the Monarchs he sees roosting in the evening. He does not do an actual count; if you would rather I not report those estimates, that's okay. I report his estimates to MassLep, along with the many actual butterfly counts I do each year.

This gathering of monarchs at the roost in Salisbury is the third one this month; I'm always so excited to see this remarkable sight! My butterfly friends in Westport, Ma are all hoping the Monarchs are making their way toward Gooseberry Island.

I believe the roost was first spotted this year by my friend, John Sullivan, on 9/11/21. The Monarchs roost in pine trees between a public campsite and the ocean. I will enclose a few photos I took 9/12/21, showing the type of pine tree; I don't think the trees are shielded from the wind. Goldenrods, sumac, and asters are nearby. I live in Boston, Ma, where the night time temps have dipped into the 50's this week, but I have not kept track of the overnight temps in Salisbury, and do not know the wind speeds. I do remember that it was very windy on 9/12/21, the day I counted 162 Monarchs. I would have done a more extensive butterfly count on the reservation that day if it hadn't been so windy.

Salisbury, MA

Latitude: 42.8 Longitude: -70.8

Observed by: Lucy
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