What a morning.  When I came out of the house (6:15) the sound of Canada 
geese filled the air (although the other migrant and local songbirds were 
also very vocal!).  The geese were mostly up very high, but many lower 
birds were gaining altitude quickly.  Perhaps these birds stayed nearby on 
the ground overnight, and those in the higher altitudes had either got up 
earlier or else left from somewhere far to the south with a head start?  
All were headed unmistakeably north.  The day to migrate has come!

There were mostly small groups (40-75), but I counted six larger groups 
(100-200).  I did not try to count individuals, but estimate between 6:15 
and 6:35 when I left, no more than one minute passed without at least one  
flock passing by, and often there were several flocks at once (not flying 
together).  And to top it off, the tundra swans that winter here had been 
joined recently by a few others from elsewhere, and they were also very 
vocal!  Between the excitement of the geese in the air and swans on the 
water, it was a wonderful moment of migratory waterfowl to witness.

PS- I forgot to mention in last night's post that the frogs I heard 
calling were wood frogs.

Jeff Shenot
Croom, MD