Fall after fall, migrating Monarch butterflies have chose a small grove of trees to roost in for the night. From late August to early October, one can scan the trees for resting Monarchs, whose folded wings look like dead leaves. When the dawn's light strikes the trees, it blazes with orange as the Monarchs open their wings to the sun. Monarchs pass through Point Pelee through mid-October and arrive in Mexico by late November, 3000 km further south.

Conditions in mid-September were not favorable this year. If the weather is cold, they will roost in trees and wait for warmer temperatures and favourable winds to cross Lake Erie. If the weather is warm, they will often go directly across the lake without stopping in the park.

On my visit the weather was warm. And there were far more stable flies than Monarch butterflies.

For more, see Monarch Butterflies at Shenandoah National Park.