Date: 05/04/1998

Number: 1

I couldn't believe my eyes today when I saw my first MONARCH pass by. The
wind has been from the SW for the past 3 days, bringing fog and
drizzle. The fog finally lifted about noon and at 4 p.m. the Monarch fluttered past headed in a more or less northerly direction for the mainland, probably about 20 miles to the north. I didn't have my binoculars with me, but it passed within 50 feet.

At first I thought it was a Mourning Cloak, but then I caught the
characteristic flight "gizz" and that, combined with the large size,
convinced me it was indeed a MONARCH. After
having seen several hundred over the years, you get a feel for them. Just
the purposefulness of its flight alone is diagnostic.

It was a fresh individual with no sign of worn wings. It was partly cloudy
at the time so the orange on the upperwings was muted. The feeling I got
was that it was a dark orange individual, not a faded one like you see in
late summer. I know this is an incredible sighting, but I

Castilia, NB

Latitude: 44.7 Longitude: -66.8

Observed by:
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