a cold weather flock

In fall migration (and in winter), birds seem to team up in flocks, sometimes mostly consisting of one or two species, other times in mixed groups that include locals as well as visitors. The logic seems to be that the locals know the best spots to look for food, especially in cold weather (and this morning was definitely cold weather).

There was a fairly large and very active mixed group that passed through this morning, led (as is often the case) by Titmice and Chickadees but also including long- and short-distance migrants -- Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, Brown Creeper, Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped Warblers, A few Eastern Towhees were also present as well as the usual raft of woodpeckers but I'm not sure they can be considered part of the flock. Considerable numbers of Swamp Sparrows, a few Common Yellowthroats and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were present in the marsh edges and the bush areas between woods and marsh. The Swamp Sparrows seem to dominate the sparrow scene abetted by some numbers of Song Sparrow and a few -- surprisingly few -- White-throated Sparrows.

Eric Salzman