Monarch butterflies migrating now...!

3 years ago

Yesterday DH noticed streams of monarch butterflies flying by - but only a couple of hundreds... It has been years since they went through here in the thousands! He got some photos yesterday but hasn't downloaded them yet. We had a late start this morning so I'm not sure how many rested in the heptacodium tree overnight, and there were only a couple in the tree or flying around by the time we were out walking Cole close to 10:00. DH then went walking along the Lake where he saw a few more but still only 10 or so in gardens by the path. They are so pretty but it is sad that their numbers are down so low - last year was even worse!

A few (disappointing!) pictures from the garden this morning:

Are you on the migration route? What are you seeing re their numbers this year?

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Comments (5)

porkchop_z5b_MI
3 years ago
Beautiful pics!

I have never seen a "stream" of them go by, not in my entire life -- that must be quite a site. I have seen them flitting around the garden here and there, as recently as yesterday. My heptacodium started blooming toward the latter part of last week, the bees are lovin' it but the butterflies couldn't seem to care less. Go figure. {shrug}
woodyoak thanked porkchop_z5b_MI
woodyoak
Original Author
3 years ago
Anything getting ready to hibernate (bees…) or are migrating (monarch butterflies) seem to like the heptacodium as a rest and/or food stop. Hummingbirds like it too - this is an old picture now in DH’s flickr account but it is still one of my favorites: https://www.flickr.com/photos/26679916@N03/8009152671/in/album-72157630396189676/

A stream of monarch butterflies migrating is indeed an impressive sight. It used to be a common annual September highlight but not for many years now at the scale it was back in the late 1980s when we first saw it near here.
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porkchop_z5b_MI
3 years ago
"this is an old picture now in DH’s flickr account but it is still one of my favorites"

That's a cute photo!
woodyoak thanked porkchop_z5b_MI
djacob Z6a SE WI
3 years ago
Awesome photo of hanging hummer!

debra
woodyoak thanked djacob Z6a SE WI
Esther-B, Zone 7a
3 years ago
I've seen a couple of monarchs here in Baltimore County, but not many. What I have been seeing is zillions of little coppers. Saw a yellow tiger swallowtail, but really mostly the little guys. Oh well, they are welcome, too. They seem to like my gaillardia and buddleia, but they've been seen on a bunch of my other flowers.
woodyoak thanked Esther-B, Zone 7a