While I was out birding in the PVSP scrubland this morning, I saw 7 PURPLE
MARTIN flying high in a small group.

The nearest PUMA colony is about 5 miles away: so I usually only see martins
during migration.

Around 9 AM almost the entire Sykesville bridge CLIFF SWALLOW colony (40+)
arrived to forage over the scrubland all day. A few (2-3) Cliff Swallow have
been visiting for several days. 

The resident Barn Swallows seem willing to share their territory: throughout
the day 15-20 Cliff Swallows would periodically join the Barn Swallow flock
perched on the porch roof, adding buzzy notes to the chatter.

I guess that yesterday's rain created a tasty cloud of high-flying gnats.
There certainly was not much bird activity closer to the ground here this
morning.


Felicia Lovelett
Sykesville, MD