Canada Geese were also on the move here this morning. Between 7 & 7:15 I saw four flocks of highflyers totalling about 280 birds heading north. Flocks of robins and cowbirds were also passing over, and pairs of grackles.
--
Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD


---- Jeff Shenot <> wrote: 
> 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 o
> n 
> 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