The old saying says one swallow does not make a summer, but in this case two swallows I think indicates the start of fall migration. Out on Great Gull Island, I have watched every morning for the last few weeks for about an hour or so after sun-up. That was usually enough to tally the island's ten nesting species: Spotted Sandpiper, Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Barn Swallow, Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle; plus the area regulars Double-crested Cormorant, American Oystercatcher, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull.
This morning there were also two Tree Swallows and one Bank Swallow headed west over the sland, plus an American Robin in our tiny pine grove. Joe DiCostanzo greatgullisland.org -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
