Spent about an hour in the gardens south of the Grenadier Restaurant on Sunday afternoon (Aug 29). Dozens of monarchs, painted ladies, american ladies and red admirals but not much else. Many people, myself included, are of the opinion that the numbers of monarchs are down from last year but now I'm not so sure. I'm now seeing several pass over my house every day and I had a report of several hundred(!) a few days ago in the Urquhart Butterfly Garden in Dundas.
I've been on the spit a few times lately and have seen several dozen monarchs each time; expect the numbers to increase when the New England Asters are in full bloom (in about two weeks?). Still quite a few fresh viceroys, black swallowtails and sulphurs and the monarchs are still NOT feeding on the goldenrod. I also saw several pairs of mating monarchs and I hope to pick up a few milkweed caterpillars in mid September.