Newly tagged monarch (blue dot identifies St. Marks) joins others on the saltbush plant.

Son Will and I headed east on the path past the lighthouse, these two monarchs were flying into a very brisk breeze.

These were closed up, facing the breeze and hanging on!

This monarch is a bit battered, but still strong enough to make the journey, truly remarkable creatures.

We have raised monarchs in our yard since Will was 5, it has been great fun to enjoy sharing them with him again!

We found numerous clusters of monarchs on the path past the lighthouse.

Son Will and I helped David Cook tag and release monarchs in the afternoon, the ones in this container had been collected in the early morning while it was cold so that they were easy to capture.

This Queen caterpillar is in the same species as the Monarch.

They both depend on milkweed as food for their larva or caterpillars.

A newly emerged Queen butterfly, almost strong enough to take flight!

Monarchs headed south in early October.

On their way to wintering grounds in Mexico.
Francie Stoutamire Photography