Date: 10/28/2021

Number: 30

Several roosts along Limestone County Road 377 on the shores of Lake Mexia.

[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 11/01/21]:

The winds were howling out of the northwest. Winds were 20 mph with gusts much higher. A high vehicle and light vehicle warning was in effect. Temps were in the low seventies.

Tree species were, I think, mostly hackberries. But in the area were oaks, pecans, hackberries, yaupon. The area, as I pointed out in my report, was next to a lake (so riparian area) and in this case was densly wooded with large trees and thick, heavy understory.

There were multiple roosts in a quarter of a mile. In the one photo I submitted, there were five monarchs in a two foot square area (we estimated at least 20 monarchs at that location). Then we drove down the road and found additional clumps of monarchs along with multiple single monarch sightings.

Additionally, and anecdotally, we are hearing from all our birding and naturalist friends that they are seeing LOTS of monarchs.

One friend reported: I counted at least 40 monarchs on a trip to San Saba (from Burnet, Texas) Monday morning. Today, however, was the most I have seen at one time in the backyard (in Burnet). It seems like there were at least 5 to 10 circling around at any one time today—thanks to the north wind. (written on Wednesday, Oct. 27).

I used all 100 of my tags at a site on Lake Buchanan in just two days last Thursday and Friday.

Mexia, TX

Latitude: 31.6 Longitude: -96.6

Observed by: Fred and Kay
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