Date: 10/09/2024
Number: 61
Arrived to the tip area of Point Pelee National Park approximately 18:20 hours to beautiful clear blue skies. Weather conditions according to the weather app on my phone at 17:59: 16°C just 1° less than the forecast high for today of 17°C, windchill 14°C, winds NNW 335° at 17 km/h with gusts up to 25 km/h, humidity 46%, dewpoint 5°C, barometric pressure steady at 102 kPa.
No precipitation over the past number of days and none expected until Sunday.
Headed immediately to the tip because of the light winds present. Noticed a Monarch in flight headed off the west shoreline into the interior. Lost sight of it so I went into the interior myself. Observed it fluttering around, trying to enter an established roost near the top of a Hackberry where roosts have historically been seen. It has a southern exposure. With the winds off the lake and the moderating effect of the warm Lake Erie water, it should be well placed in spite of low temperatures expected overnight. After getting this photo, I headed to the East Beach to check on the ones I had seen yesterday and the day before. I was able to locate the same two Monarchs that I have been seeing for the last two days in the exact position that I left them. One more has added itself to that Hackberry. Found another Hackberry slightly further south of that tree with 33 individuals. The same Monarch whose photo I submitted yesterday, was observed in this tree with its wings open again. I suspect it may be some kind of a deformity. Based on these duplicate observations, it is safe to say that the Monarchs from three days ago are still here and their numbers are building. I ran out of daylight and had to cease my observations as I had been warned by the Point Pelee gate staff that I could not stay past closing time. There may well have been more as I did not get to check the entire east beach. Any visitors on the 10th may be able to get a more accurate count if they go to the east beach.
Point Pelee National Park, ON
Latitude: 41.9 Longitude: -82.5
Observed by: Laura
Contact Observer
The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.
