Date: 09/24/2025

Number: 17

Joined the evening Monarch hike at Point Pelee National Park. It had been a very rainy day and was overcast. Speaking to a Park employee, she told me that the winds had changed to the North in between the rain storms. I looked for the roost observed last evening but it was empty. This was unsurprising as the wind was very strong from the east and was buffeting the interior of the tip where the roost had been. They may have departed in between the storms when the wind switched to North. Visitors reported seeing Monarchs near the tip. On my way down I had seen two Monarchs but neither was looking to settle. With a strong east wind, I started to examine the trees on the west tip beach area. Very close to sunset and after, I started noticing individuals coming in from the south off the tip. I found this very surprising. I can only hypothesise that they were caught out on Lake Erie and being carried in the strong east wind looking for shelter. It took quite an effort for them to fight against the wind to find purchase. I found two in a Cottonwood with a western exposure. I watched others find refuge in Hackberry trees on the west tip beach and path. With the wind and the biting stable flies and the lack of light, I was unable to locate all the individuals which I watched arrive. The two in the photograph are located in a Hop Tree which has been trimmed mechanically, immediately north of the ring buoy at the tip. They are at chest height and below. All individuals located had a western exposure to be in the lee of the wind By 19:30 all had settled.
Observations with binoculars and the naked eye

Leamington, ON

Latitude: 41.9 Longitude: -82.5

Observed by: Laura
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