Date: 09/11/2013

Number: 40

Checked several alfalfa fields in bloom this afternoon, and all of them had feeding monarchs. Counted a dozen in the first, and a dozen in the last. In between, I checked half a dozen fields where I saw 3-6.
I can safely assume that there were many times more monarchs than I saw. Conditions here have been dry and warm and today is very windy, mostly west but with a northern bias.
One farmer I talked to said that because it has been so dry he does not plan to cut his alfalfa. Perhaps others are doing the same.
I am entering this in the PEAK migration category for a couple of reasons. For one, I have never made an entry here before. For another, I am calling this DesperationMigration2013. I had just about given up on a late hatch and flight but today is proving me wrong. There will definitely be roosts tonight. Even though current temperatures are 80+, the night is supposed to bring 50s........the monarchs will know.
Tomorrow is supposed to be northerly winds, so today's monarchs will probably be gone. Perhaps I will be lucky enough to catch new sightings on these same fields.
If so, tomorrow night should be another good roosting night, with temps perhaps reaching the 40's.

Observed by: Pat
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