First Monarch Roost I’ve Seen in SF County
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Rick Bacigalupi asked me to go back out into the field with him for some more film of butterflies for the KQED piece he’s doing on me. I told him this late in the year our pickings are slim, but after seeing his rough cut, I thought there were a couple we could add.
Took him first out to Lobos Dunes thinking I might score the last of the Acmon Blues for the season. Still worked out well because three female Orange Sulfurs (Colias eurytheme f. alba) were the only thing out there and he got some good ones of that. Crossed the street
looking for Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta) in the dappled sunlight of the creek that extends to the sea.
Found one laying eggs on the Stinging Nettle. I thought we’d for sure score a Monarch or two in the Community Garden...and then onto Lovers Bridge...but nothing. My last hope was out at the Fort Mason Community Garden - where I’ll be surveying for Monarchs next week at the historic roost. We immediately had one in verbana. I then asked him if he’d follow me up into the groove to see if I saw any numbers of them. Within seconds I looked up to see a small group -- a cluster -- gathered together in the late afternoon to bed down for the night. I’d seen numbers on Yerba Buena, but not a cluster...thrilled!
Something I’ve been waiting a long time to see here. Hope I can find them next week...