Date: 03/17/2024

Number: 9

Today I observed at least nine individual monarchs (6 females, 3 males).

At 10:30am it was 67 degrees F, sunny w/clouds, 91% humidity, with wind 8 mph from the N. I saw five individual monarchs flying in a short walk-about. I started to observe an egg-laying female in our backyard, but she was pursued by a male ~ they spiraled high into the morning sky. I lost sight of her, but I saw him sail down and continue his patrolling.

I went back out from 11:30am to 12:30pm. It was 70 degrees F, sunny with a few clouds, 80% humidity, with light breezes from the N. Going about to the different pastures I was able to observe six egg-laying females. I followed several very closely in my usual way. At one point two of them were within a couple of feet of each other. They then had a low aerial tussle/dance and came down basically in the same location, slightly more separated. Thankfully, there is plenty of fresh, healthy milkweed available, so all the females have a good selection. During that hour, I saw three male monarchs sailing about and nectaring on yellow thistles. There may be more males than that, but harder for me to be sure of individuals, unlike the slower moving egg-laying females.

Later in the afternoon, I continued to see both male and female monarch activity, though less than in the morning and mid-day (as is typical). The weather also became quite overcast and a feeling of rainstorms soon.

This is a photo of one of the lovely female monarchs seen today as she lays an egg on the buds of a young milkweed (Asclepias viridis).

Montgomery, TX

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8

Observed by: Kathy
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