[birdky] RPT: Lexington Purple Martin roost

Finally got a chance to run by the Lexington Purple Martin roost last
night. If you've never seen one and you are in the area, you should take
the opportunity to see them during the next week or so (they will
probably move south soon). This roost seems like it is comparable to the
larger ones in the Louisville area in years past with 10,000 to 25,000
birds (*very* hard to estimate ... if anyone goes and thinks they have a
clue please pass along your estimate!). The birds are utilizing a patch
of deciduous trees north of West Loudon Ave. between Lexmark and the
Farmers Feed Mill (251 Loudon Ave.), east of the YMCA. Thanks to Jim
Williams for providing the specifics previously on BIRDKY. 
 
The martins apparently begin gathering on the wires in the area during
the evening with many moving into the air over the roost about 8:15-8:30
and most going into the roost during a 15-20 minute or more period right
after sunset. You can see the mass of birds from the YMCA parking lot
and adjacent soccer field area, but best viewing (take a raincoat if you
don't want to chance getting pooped on!) was from the Farmers Feed Mill
parking lot off Loudon. I spoke to Jeff Pendleton at the Farmers Feed
Mill this morning and he said it would be alright for birdwatchers to
watch the birds from their parking lot. West Loudon Ave. goes east off
Newtown Pike (Exit 115 off I-75/I-64 on north side of Lexington), about
2.5 miles south of the interstate interchange; Loudon is the first
traffic light (not counting the yellow flashing light) about 3/4 mile
south of New Circle Road (Lexington's main inner belt). Again, thanks to
Jim Williams for the location info.
 
The departing birds showed up nicely on this morning's Louisville NWS
radar loop. I missed the initial departure probably about 6:30 am on the
radar, but the ring was already spreading well out of Fayette County by
the first frame I got at 6:52 a.m. By the 7:38 a.m. frame, birds were
still visible on the radar about 32 miles to the east of the roost in
central Montgomery County. If you'd like me to email you a few of the
captured frames, just email me. As my amigo, Bob Sargent would say ...
pretty neat stuff.
 
bpb, Louisville

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