Yesterday I went out (covered in Gore-tex) to Missisquoi NWR in the rain
and wind and was treated to an amazing show of swallows on the Missisquoi
River.  I walked the gravel road from Louie's Landing to Mac's Bend (about
1 mile) and observed a continuous stream of swallows along this section and
as far down the river from Mac's Bend as I could see.  It was a nearly
equal mix of Tree and Barn, and I picked out 2 Banks.  There was no way to
estimate the total numbers, surely many hundreds.

The wind was blowing from the north (i.e., blowing up-river).  The swallows
would repeatedly fly very fast with the wind up-river, then fly into the
wind and make their way slowly down-river, hawking insects from the air and
water surface.  Most of the show was pretty much at eye level.  With the
birds moving so slowly, they were very easy to follow with binoculars (or
without).  As I stood on the river bank, they would zip right past my head
and knees.  I love watching swallows, and this was a great show, even in
the rain!

--Ken Copenhaver