Our New Zealand Monarch butterflies do not migrate to anywhere in particular, during our Winters. Rather they form into small and large clusters and hang about in tall trees, in the areas they were raised into.

Because of our longer than usual 2018-19 Summer, it's been wonderful to be seeing so many Monarchs flying about in Autumn.

Here's a small cluster of 5, that I saw in Nelson late in May. Aren't they lovely among the Autumn colours?

Yesterday was sunny and so I visited the Paihia Village Green again.
You may recall that I mentioned seeing a cluster of Monarchs there,  in my blog post of 11 May.

Sure enough there they were.  Monarchs in the trees (mainly the Totara and Rimu trees, but also Pohutukawa), Monarchs flying and gliding - what a glorious sight.
I counted at least 30, however would guess there might have been almost as many again that I couldn't see.  I also noticed some enjoying nectar from flowers in the nearby library garden, while two wafted across the large public car park to the rear.

Click click click went my camera.  How very beautiful they all looked together.

Excitement for me today in seeing a small cluster of perhaps eight Monarchs at a park in Paihia. 
Ok, Ok,  I realise that eight Monarchs might not make a real cluster, for those who have seen them in their hundreds or even thousands, however I have never seen clustering Monarchs so it was good enough for me.

The sun was shining directly on the low branches of the Pohutukawa tree, that they were clustering on, as they sat on the branches facing towards the sun with their wings open.
Two flew up and circled about together and then went back to the branch.  Two others also did a few twirls in the air together and they too went back to the branch.  Then I noticed several others circling above nearby trees, so perhaps there were about eight in total. 

I was quite taken by surprise and stood watching, rather than photographing them, for too many minutes.  What a joy to see.

I'll certainly be going back there again.  For anyone in the Paihia area, I have marked the location on the map, with a purple "star".  It's a big Pohutukawa on the village green, near to the corner of Marsden and School Roads.

Click on each picture below,  to see a larger view.....