Hello all,

I headed up to Campbell Bay in West Swanton in hopes of finding migrating shorebirds and a few other species in the area. There were not many shorebirds- 2 Killdeer, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 5 Least Sandpipers & 1 Wilson's Snipe.

I then stopped at the intersection of Rte. 78 & Cambell Bay Rd. and counted 10 Black Terns feeding over the water.
I didn't stay too long so there may have been even more.

I headed to Tabor Rd. from there and found many, many Bobolinks setting up territories in the roadside fields.
I also saw 2 American Bitterns together in one of the fields no more than 20' from the road.

I pulled into the parking lot for the Stephen Young Marsh Trail, parked and walked that trail to the end.
There were at least 20 each of Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats & Northern Waterthrush. I also heard & saw 1 Eastern Meadowlark, saw 1 Brown Thrasher, heard 2 Black-and White Warblers, saw a few Gray Catbirds, as well as many Savannah Sparrows.

I then went to the Swanton/Alburg bridge on Rte. 78 and found the colony of Cliff Swallows. I counted 13 but I did not stay long. I am sure that there are many more.

I then went to the Franklin County State Airport in Highgate. I saw 3 Vesper Sparrows and watched 1 of them singing.
I heard 2 Grasshopper Sparrows singing away and was able to locate both of them. I also saw 1 Savannah Sparrow and 1 Eastern Bluebird.

I then stopped to get a look at Popasquash Island in St. Albans and easily counted 83 Common Terns. I counted only the ones that I could see as they were resting atop the island. I am sure there were more that I could not see.

Enjoy Birds,

Jim Mead