Ashbridge's Bay, August 31, 2007 - Monarchs!
Feeling too tired for serious exercise this morning (largely thanks to Fabrice Santoro), I decided to grab my camera and head to Ashbridge's Bay, intending to capture some evidence of the changing season. I had a particular tree in mind, with green, yellow, and red leaves in mind, which I never found.But on the way, I had a first in my lifetime. And it was a surprise.
As mentioned before, I watched Monarch Butterflies travelling westward at a high rate last weekend. During the week, I've seen a couple of them flitting about, and had got to the point of assuming I would see no more.
So as I entered Ashbridge's Bay Park this morning I was a little surprised to see first one, then a pair, and then twos and threes flitting about. And about ten minutes into my walk, I hit my first tree pretty much covered with them!
There were a couple more similar trees and here are two or three shots I got. I tried to catch pictures of them flying, but that will take some practice. Maybe next year!
This was of the first tree I saw, and it amazed me. (click to enlarge)
I like this shot - note that many butterflies are in focus - the blur gives a sense of what a busy scene it was!
Here are a few individuals.
Several branches of several trees looked like this.
What a scene! What a morning!
UPDATE: (Sept. 1, 2007) Was back at the park and there was not a butterfly to be seen.
Labels: Monarchs butterflies Ashbridge
posted by Alan Adamson @ 8:58 AM
2 Comments:
Awesome ! This is something I would dearly love to see at least once in my lifetime. I live on the south side of Lake Erie and see lots of hungry migrating monarchs feeding on clover and asters, but have never seen an overnight cluster like this.
I have made it through almost 60 years, more or less aware of the Monarchs for maybe 50, and I never believed I would ever see the like. This was a great thrill to me.
My weekend plans are to visit the north shore of Lake Erie (where I know from last year that they cruise through in very great numbers, at least in Port Stanley). I wonder if they are staging to head down the Detroit River. I have NO idea.
All I know is, I am still totally excited. A life waiting for this and now I have seen it.
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