As many of you know, I am always excited to see a Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus). This season started slowly and after a few months I feared that I would not see any of them at all. However, late in the season I began to spot them at multiple locations. Often they were by themselves and only occasionally did I see two of them in the same location.
Imagine my joy when I managed to capture three of them in a single shot on the first of October at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, long after I expected them to have migrated out of our area. The butterflies were feverishly feeding on some thistles that were flowering, probably packing in energy for the long migratory journey south.
I suspect that this will be my last sighting of this colorful butterfly species this year. I bid these three monarchs farewell and wish them a safe onward journey.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
It is an utter joy to behold these three monarchs, Mike, and I can imagine how thrilled you were. I saw a few in a friend’s garden last weekend and am still thinking about them the following weekend. With you, I bid them a safe journey.
Lovely! I wish them well too. I looked up the collective noun for butterflies earlier today – you have a landed flight of butterflies here.
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Very nice Mike! 3 in 1 image! Great image!
Nice to get three of them together.
Thrilling to see three in the same frame, Mike. You still might see a few more stragglers. I saw a couple of late ones here in MA just two days ago. Kind of dicey for them this time of year, but if the weather stays mild, they just might make it. Fingers crossed.
I am still keeping my eyes out for them, but I am reconciled to the possibility that I might not see any more.
Three of them in one picture, incredible !! Top shot Mike 😉
We had multiple visitations but I never saw more than two and they were not close to each other. Maybe these are all from the same mother and have flown together. I have no idea if they can actually tell each other as related or not. Just some silly thinking probably. It’s a fine shot and if it is your last of the year what a nice way to go out.
I really like your thought of siblings staying together. What a great concept!
Deer do it, crows do it, even ravens for ever more do it, let’s do it, let’s fly as one. 🙂
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Wow, wonderful capture of the trio with those thistle blooms, Mike!
This is a beautiful, beautiful photograph, Mike.
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Thanks, Mitzy. I can never pass up an opportunity to photograph a Monarch butterfly.
Sadly, it is likely your last sighting for the year. But wow, what a shot!!
Thanks, Molly. I’ve kept my eyes open this past week, but it does seem that those were my last Monarchs of the year.