100s of Yellow-rumps

ined the trees and bushes on the upper marsh all the way to the Tupelo trees at the top. For at least the first 20' after sunrise, the birds kept arriving in groups of one and two dozen. They were in constant motion, popping in and out of the foliage, eating Red Cedar berries, flycatching, chasing each other and generally doing all the things that Yellow-rumped Warblers do.

Accompanying them were more than a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and at least one Black-throated Green Warbler (both first of the season around here) plus E. Phoebe, House Wren, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, N. Parulas and Indigo Buntings. Also small numbers of Tree Swallows moving overhead on a straight northeast to southwest orientation and at least one Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Catbirds aplenty plus the familiar Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, Robins, Chickadees, Blue Jays, Song and Swamp Sparrows, House and Goldfinches..

This burst of activity lasted perhaps an hour and then completely subsided. Where did everyone go? When there's a flight we often get a big show at sunrise and then everything disappears, perhaps disbursing into the interior.

Eric Salzman