Migration This Year Had Highs and Lows

The major concern was for the pelicans arrival this season with the massive storm kill-off of waterfowl in Mold, Montana. As it turned out, eventually, we got our regular number of birds to take up residency until late March.

The other major migration was that of the Monarch Butterflies. California got a large number to pass trough this year, but in North Texas, we only had a fractional number of flies. I did some in my neighborhood and always saw a hand full at the lake, but the butterfly garden had a hand full of the royal flies.




 Weather played a part, most likely with the jet stream not shifting south like it normally does. Also, while this is the central flyway for birds and Monarchs, again, weather to the west was more favorable than what we were having here. The most worrisome of all is, of course, the declining number of Monarchs.

For those that like to track Monarch Migration, Monarch Watch. The info source is from the Entomology Program at the University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Ave.,Lawrence, KS 66045-7534.

Monarch's Arrive in North Texas

To me, it was getting a bit late in the season for Monarch butterflies to arrive. They leave the Great Lakes and Canada in early June. By August , usually they are enjoying the wildflowers here, stocking up on strength to make it on to Mexico  for the winter. Until today, I had not seen any! Then, like a thunderstorm arriving, they were showing up here and there more frequently and have made it here for the 2015 migration.

While watching for monarchs I ran across two senior citizens that I stop to  chat with  for a while. One is an elderly Chinese man.  We communicate with hand signals. I speak no Chinese and he speak very limited English. The second usually is sitting on a bench overlooking the lake with his wife. But, today, I got pictures of my Chinese friend fishing--as he always does. I let him know that I am going to take a picture or two and he generally agrees.

I spent about two hours shooting goldenrod and butterflies and getting my annual shot of a falling leaf onto the docks,. It's usually is one of the first trees I have found each year that drops its leaves before Halloween. Over the years, I have several file shots of that dock. Each with that trees leaves on the dock. Strangely enough, the always land in about the same place.

Here's a couple shots from this afternoon. I changed the settings on my camera today and was testing out the settings. If you haven't  figured it out by now, I don't put the ones that technically are within range to post and list with my agent on line. Funny how that works. If I could watermark the good ones, I would, but of course, they can't be sold if they are watermarked. It's a catch 22 anyway you go. Quality control in the twenty-seven cent stock marked is tuff!

A friend at the lake.

The arrival of the monarchs

Hay fever but it's still pretty.

23 September 2015: edited for clarity and to add a comment.