UPDATE: An expert has pointed out to us that the butterfly in these beautiful photos is not a monarch, but a painted lady butterfly. Apparently this is a common mistake. Sorry, butterfly! Monarchs have indeed been flocking to our region lately, but painted ladies are welcome, too! ☺️ ___ In addition to human travelers, guess who else loves to visit Atascadero? Monarch butterflies! These beautiful local photos were captured this year as the monarchs have surged on the Central Coast. Their numbers had dipped in recent years, but conservation efforts have helped restore them, and we are now seeing thousands of monarchs returning to our region on their annual migration path! Most cluster in nearby Pismo Beach, but we get our fair share of sightings here in Atascadero, as well. The Charles Paddock Zoo at Atascadero Lake Park is a great spot for a monarch butterfly sighting. 😍🦋 #atascadero #visitatascadero #centralcoast #slocal #naturelover #pismobeach #monarchs 📸: @zholback.photography