This evening, between 6:50pm and 8:06pm, 851 Barn Swallows were counted individually as they came downriver towards the Merritt Parkway/Wilbur Cross Parkway bridge which spans the Housatonic between northern Stratford and Milford. The birds came in groups of 15 to 70. Interestingly, although Barn Swallows frequently nest under bridges, not one bird flew either under or over the bridge to continue downriver. They all diverted to the western bank of the river and crossed to go southward away from the bridge. Not one other swallow species was observed among all these Barn Swallows. It was a puny number of Barn Swallows compared to the huge numbers estimated along the lower Connecticut River, but it was still an interesting flight to watch. There were also at least 450 Common Grackles which went to roost for the night in the reed beds upriver from the bridge. Charlie Barnard Jr. Stratford