Tree Swallows

The Tree Swallow migration through Plum Island is something to behold. Often 100,000 birds can be seen in literal clouds in the sky above the Refuge. The Swallows eat insects and also bayberries, both in abundance in the surrounding area. While on a work detail in Salisbury I took some shots of a "smaller"  sized flock of Tree Sparrows, probably totaling around 10,000 birds.

                                    A good spread of migrants continue at Winthrop Beach

                 Ruddy Turnstone ( center)  with Semipalmated Plover and Semipalmated Sandpipers

                                                        Black-bellied Plover

                                      Black-bellied Plover in flight, 2 Red Knot to the left

Migration

Over the past few weeks the migration from the Arctic has begun with the first medium sized groups of peeps.  Semi-palmated Sandpipers and Semi-palmated Plovers in groups of a few hundred are actively feeding at lowtide at both Winthrop and Revere. Revere so far has the higher numbers which today reached around 400. A few other species; Sanderling, White-rumped Sandpiper, and Red-knot have also appeared, only one of each so far.