Yesterday's change in weather suggested that there might be a movement of migrants last night but, in our corner of the world at least, it didn't really materialize. The big show this morning was a swallow spectacle -- mostly Barn but with a couple of Trees and at least one Bank mixed in. They were all over the marsh and there were some spectacular aerial acrobatics but it lasted only for the first hour or so of the morning. Afterwards most of the swallows disappeared (although they were followed by numbers of Purple Martins flying quite high).
As for other migrants, the most notable arrival was a large, greenish/olive Empid with a fairly strong eye ring and wing bars, most probably an Acadian Flycatcher. It was in very fresh plumage which reinforces the Acadian ID (Acadians molt into fresh plumage on the breeding grounds -- which most other Empids do not -- so they arrive here looking quite spiffy).
Afterwards I went back out with Eileen Schwinn (she came by with the same thought about the change in weather) and we found a few more migrants: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Black-and-white Warbler, Also two young Baltimore Orioles working the tree tops, Common Yellowthroats working the shrubs and a few Royal Terns working the creek. A large raptor reappeared, this time discovered by the Crows who put up a huge racket. Unfortunately, the object of their loud vituperations and maledictions disappeared through the trees before I could get a good look.
Eric Salzman
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