Date: 10/09/2025

Number: 2

Joined the evening Monarch hike at Point Pelee National Park. Arrived to the tip area approximately 18:37. Sun setting at 18:57. We had approximately 20 minutes to find any Monarchs if they were there. Strong East wind, that according to the park employee had been in place all day. Got to the tip and realised there would be little chance of finding any in the interior and definitely not the east beach. After walking south down the west path I decided to head out to the west beach of the tip, which is growing. As I made my way north from the tip, I heard the rest of the hike and the Park employee indicated to me that they had watched a Monarch alight in a Cottonwood tree. Using borrowed binoculars, I scanned every branch in the area that she mentioned. Eventually, I found the Monarch. I kept looking and was able to locate a second individual on an adjacent Cottonwood. These were fairly mature Cottonwoods. The Monarchs were located about halfway up. Both were on an outermost leaf with a western exposure in the wind shadow on branches that were overhanging Lake Erie. With frost having occurred in areas inland over the past number of days and temperatures into the single digits forecast overnight, I believe these Monarchs chose wisely as the moderating effect of the lake would help to keep them warmer. Not the first time I have observed this when Monarchs roost in cold weather late in the season.
After multiple days of zero Monarchs sighted at Point Pelee, it was a surprise to find these. I knew there was a little hope after the roost that Gary discovered on Monday in Leamington.
Apologies for the poor photograph as it was taken using my cell phone after sunset and the Monarch is quite high up in the tree. Look in the centre of the photo, the wing tips are partially obscured by a leaf.
Observations done using binoculars.

Leamington, ON

Latitude: 41.9 Longitude: -82.5

Observed by: Laura
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