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lots more Cave Swallows



The Cave Swallow flock was still at the west end of Ocean Isle NC this 
morning.  Indeed, the first swallow I saw was a Cave!  About 12 Caves 
were swirling around in a vacant lot near the end of the public road.  At 
times they approached to within a few feet!  Unfortunately I couldn't get 
any photos -- digiscoping doesn't work too well with a flying target 
(never saw one land).  In the distance further west (private development) 
I saw another 3 Caves.  Driving development roads back to the bridge, I 
found another three small flocks totalling 9 Caves, for a total of about 
24 for Ocean Isle.  I also checked the eastern half of the island, but 
found only Trees.

On the way to Sunset Beach, I noticed some swallows flying over the 
shopping center at the intersection of 179 and 904 (near Seaside).  I 
checked them out carefully and found another 7 Caves among the Trees. 

At Sunset Beach and Twin Lakes I found hundreds of Tree Swallows, but no 
Caves.

Jeff Pippen also found two Cave Swallows on a golf course at Caswell 
Beach.  Adding Eric Dean's 4+ at Sunset Beach, that makes a grand total 
of about 37 seen in Brunswick County today!

All the Caves I saw well appeared to be of the race pelodoma/pallida 
(southwestern US/Mexico).


--
Charles W. "Will" Cook                  w 919-660-7423
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook            cwcook@duke.edu
Biology Dept., Duke Univ., Box 90340, Durham, NC 27708