This afternoon, in Montpelier, a merlin -- probably that seen often recently and reported here by the city's denizens -- caught my eye.  

Near it, were a few Chimney Swifts.  Soon, the Merlin headed back toward the State House and out of my view.  But the Swifts did not.  

First there were a few.  Then 10.  Then twenty or thirty.  Soon there were well over a hundred -- more than I can ever recall having seen at one time.  

It was a wondrous aerial show.  They seemed to concentrate over the hillside where National Life sits.  Then, they would wave over downtown, and circle back to the south.  

After about 10 minutes, they just melted away.  In 30 seconds or so, there wasn't a single one in sight.  If you asked me, I couldn't tell you where they went -- or even what direction.  They just suddenly weren't there.  

It was like it never happened.  And what was even stranger was that there was a large number of people around me, walking up and down Main Street.  Here I was standing in the middle of the path looking up at the sky through binoculars, virtually blocking their way, and not a single person looked up.  It was kind of eerie -- like I was in the Chimney Swift Twilight Zone and no one else got it.  I think it's one of those great birding moments you tend to remember for a long while.

Scott Sainsbury
Moretown