Sept 13.
I live right next door to Oakton Elementary
School on route 123 in Oakton. As I ambled home
after spending most of the day grading papers and
organizing slides, a bunch of chimney swifts
flying towards the elementary school caught my
eye--more in number and with more direct flight
than the usual 3 or 4 that fly over the field
near my house. So I decided to go to the Subway
on just the other side of Oakton Elementary and
get a picnic supper and see if I could find a
roost while I ate. As I strolled by the school
at about 7:05 there were about 25 swifts flying
in circles over the school and over the
Friendly's across the street. By the time I got
out of Subway there were well over 60.
The first Swift entered the Oakton Elementary
School chimney at 7:21. Only 2 more fluttered
into the chimney between then and 7:31. By 7:41
all 185 (or so) had entered the chimney. As
always at swift roosts it was difficult for me to
count numbers. I counted them by 5's as they
changed direction, wing angle and speed as they
dropped into the chimney.
Though I have lived right next door for 13 years
I was never aware of this roost. True, I am
usually at school (FHS) until after dark, but
still, if this was a regular roost in previous
years I imagine I would've noticed it now and
then. Has anyone else noticed this roost?
PS ** Does anyone know if the chimney at Luther
Jackson Middle School has the huge roost that it
had last year? I would love to take my
biostudents to see a really big roost. Please let
me know if you know of a big roost in Northern
Virginia that is active right now. I wonder if
the Oakton Elementary roost will grow.
PPS There have been two solitary sandpipers in
the marshy edges of the drainage "pond" at the
Flint Hill School Upper School Campus in Oakton
for the past week.
Thanks
All the best
Fred
=====
Frederick D. Atwood fredatwood@xxxxxxxxx
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org
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