Tree Swallow - Swarming

Earlier this month, I had made a visit to Gooseberry in Westport Massachusetts to do some photography. While I was sitting on the beach photographing the shorebirds and the ducks that were present I was watching the flight of swallows coming in from the mainland. When I turned around the swallows were gathering on the Phragmites in moderate large numbers.
Ah Hah I said it is getting to be that season of the year when the tree swallows gathered together in preparation for their migration. In August and September they gather in the marshes and fields by the sea, with their numbers increasing daily.
Most of the swallows that were present were tree swallows although there were some barn swallows and rare rough-winged swallows mixed into the large group.
Gooseberry is one of the gathering areas as well as Sachuest National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown Rhode Island
Yesterday, my colleague Doug and I returned to Gooseberry to do additional birding and of course from the photography. The numbers of shorebirds were increasing along the beach. But, the numbers of swallows that were present were enormous. There were hundreds if not thousands of them swarming over the mid-portion of the island.
I am inserting a video of the birds swarming, plus additional pictures including some blurs that I made.

Swarming Tree Swallows

JJust standing there with the multitude of swallows flying around over your head and around you is just breathtaking. So if you have a chance, go visit Gooseberry and enjoy the swallows