Late monarchs still moving through Virginia

[Judy Molnar]

Monarch migration observations 10-18-10 Waystation #271 Newport News, Va

Netted, tagged and released a male monarch that nectared on Zinnia front garden at 3:05 pm

Was doing several things inside the house when spotted the 2nd monarch nectaring outside in front, don't recall the flower, netted, tagged & released female 3:45 pm.

Decided to park myself on the patio at this point! The butterfly bush did all the attracting from now on.

Netted, tagged & released a male at 3:55 pm

Another monarch landed soon after; a second landed on the same bush, adjacent flowers as I readied the net. Swung and caught both in one swipe, a male and female, tagged & released 4:05 pm, whoo hoo!

As I released the pair immediately another landed, swung & missed that one [rats], it flew south 4:06 pm

Next one landed 4:15 pm to nectar but by the time I got to net, it flew up and over the roof south.

Netted, tagged & released a male at 4:35 pm

Netted, tagged & released a female at 4:45 pm

Stayed until 5:15 pm, winds had picked up and temperature dropped. Gave up.
So, saw 9, tagged 7 in 2 hours 10 minutes.

[ilsa]

Judy,

I was down your way last Saturday at a funeral in Hampton, and I saw a Monarch in the cemetery.

Here in northern Maryland, the last Monarchs I saw were the last ones I raised and released on 1 Oct.

Ilsa