Birders,
Last night my spouse and I skipped the nighthawk show (having marveled at it
three times the previous week) and went to Luther Jackson Middle School in
Falls Church. The parking lot was full and I figured the word about the chimney
swifts had gotten out -- but no, there was a soccer game on the adjacent
playing field. Regardless, the swifts were already circling the old chimney
stacks
but not yet entering - this was about 7:45 PM.
By the time we left, when it was too dark to see (and the game had ended),
there were easily over 100 swifts, with more and more swooping into the chimney
for the night. Not yet the "clouds" that probably will be migrating in another
week, but a wonderful and impressive "show." Luther Jackson MS is also on
Gallows Road - so it's quite practical to watch the swifts and still arrive at
the Tyson's end of Gallows to see the nighthawks. Makes a wonderful evening!
Leni Friedman
Arlington
