Its monarch time again on the west coast. This is the beginning of the monarch migration. Now, on the west coast, the monarchs are starting to collect by the thousands in weather protected groves from Mexico all the way up to the San Francisco area.
I stopped by a local monarch grove (Pismo state park) about a week ago and the count was at 7200. A good start and enough to think about going there to get that perfect Monarch Butterfly picture.
They have docents there as well as a trailer where you can buy lots of things you don't need. Additionally they have a short class on monarchs a couple times a day.
If you're in the area its definitely worth a stop (plan 1hr or more if you have a camera with you).
Here's a map to the Pismo location
http://hutsonphotography.com/map/butterflys.jsp

-Philip Hutson

Phillip,
Thanks for the reminder, I live a 1/2 mile from the monarch grove in Pismo and always forget about it until it's to late.

Since your a local guy if you ever want to go out shooting drop me an email.

Cris...

Here's one from last season hopefully it will provide some inspiration to get out there and shoot these little critters

phutson:
Its monarch time again on the west coast. This is the beginning of the monarch migration. Now, on the west coast, the monarchs are starting to collect by the thousands in weather protected groves from Mexico all the way up to the San Francisco area.
I stopped by a local monarch grove (Pismo state park) about a week ago and the count was at 7200. A good start and enough to think about going there to get that perfect Monarch Butterfly picture.
They have docents there as well as a trailer where you can buy lots of things you don't need. Additionally they have a short class on monarchs a couple times a day.
If you're in the area its definitely worth a stop (plan 1hr or more if you have a camera with you).
Here's a map to the Pismo location
http://hutsonphotography.com/map/butterflys.jsp

-Philip Hutson



Philip,

Do you know when the monarch migration peaks? Cris?

Rosemary,
The peak if I remember correctly is around mid december. They start to leave around mid Jan.
Cris,
Thanks I keep that in mind but I usually go on the spur of the moment.

Here's one of mine from the Goleta grove
<img src="http://www.hutsonphotography.com/HutsonAlbum/album.jsp?album=Butterflies&image=BUTRFLY4">

Rosemary,
Have you ever been to the monarch wintering location in pacific grove?
I think I saw last year it was closed but I haven't seen that it's closed this year.
-Philip

You know, I haven't even figured out where that is in Pacific Grove. I know they had a park near Santa Cruz where the monarchs congregate but it was closed last year due to a tragic accident where a tree limb fell on someone killing them. I believe they are now reopened.

I should get online and do a search and get over there. I'm only a half hour away from Pacific Grove.

But I'm always looking for a chance to escape to your area cause I love it down there.