Date: 03/08/2023
Number: 8
As I went down to the pastures at 10:00am it was 74 degrees F, partly cloudy, with 77% humidity, and with soft breezes from the SE. The grass was wet with dew.
Over the course of 45 minutes I observed 8 monarchs (6 females, 2 males). The females were egg-laying and resting at times. The males were sailing around, nectaring on yellow thistles, and looking for females.
As I followed one female, she had just found a milkweed to lay eggs on, when a male swooped in and began to chase her. She flew fast to the nearby brambly grapevine thicket, where she lost him in the foliage. I saw her emerge and fly high for a bit, but then calmly sail back down to seeking milkweed.
Throughout the day I continued to see monarch activity: flying around, milkweed seeking, egg-laying, resting, and nectaring.
This is a photo of one of the morning monarchs as she lays an egg on a newly emerged milkweed sprout.
Montgomery, TX
Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8
Observed by: Kathy
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