Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2002 22:27:05 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Chris Starling Subject: Chimney Swift roost discovered in Cecil County Will birding today at work (Perry Point V.A. Hospital grounds on the Susquehanna River in Cecil County) I noticed quite a few more swifts then I had noticed all Summer. Towards sunset I ended up down at the river at the pumping station where I have often seen Green Heron. There I noticed Hundreds of swifts flying low over the river feeding like swallows. I watched them for a while. Then I realized that the pumping station had a 50 foot chimney that was quite conspicious in the field. I watched as more and more swifts showed up. I estimate that eventually 1500-2000 Swifts finally began there tornadic role around the chimney then one by one the began to drop into their roost. It was absolutly breath taking. I had never whitnesed thison such a great scale! i can't wait for tomorrow night, I hope they stay around.... to get there Travel I95 or US40 to Perryville, MD. Turn Southeast onto RTE 272 towards the V.A. Hospital. At the end of the 272 turn right onto Broad Street. Follow Broad Street to the entrance of the V.A. grounds. Go through the unguarded gate onto the grounds and immediatly turn right onto Ave A. Proceed along the river 300 Yards the pump station is the brick building on the right (only building on the river). I was there between 7:15PM and 8:00PM. the last swift disapeared at 7:55. Happy Birding! ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================