This morning I saw 5 Vaux's Swifts flying together over Olympia's west side, my
first in at least three weeks. They were twittering (of course?), but I thought
some notes seemed lower pitched and "slurpier" than what I'm used to. I've
suspected a nearby chimney of supporting a nesting pair, based on June
observations, and wonder if young might have fledged. These 5 appeared this
morning on the route I walk daily at about the same time, so I don't think I've
missed anything in intervening weeks. I don't suppose there's a sure-fire way
to distinguish juvenile swifts with the bare eye?
--
Scott Richardson
Olympia, Washington
salix at halcyon.com