Dunlins (We Think)

A year or so ago, Lydia and I wandered out to the Skagit flats to see what we could see.  We may have been eagle sighting.
We happened upon a dike near a slough and climbed up to see what was there.  We were just in time to witness a hypnotizing, entrancing dance of dunlins over the water.   They sway this way and that in soaring unison, occasionally swooping down low and then slowly rising back up high.  It was magical and seemed like it was a show just for us and the 3-4 other people there. 

Dunlins are shorebirds that visit the region during their annual migrations along the Pacific flyway.  I'm not sure how long they stay in the valley.

Friday night we discovered that we were out of propane and couldn't cook our dinner.  We went out to Lowe's for our refill.  On the way, we saw this.

There were more birds on the wire than you can even imagine.

Behind Lowe's, we could see some in flight.  We drove around the back of the store for the show.

Having only my iPhone, it was difficult to do justice to what we saw.

The next night we went back armed with the proper photographic equipment and captured quite a scene.

The birds started from the wires on the street in front of the store and flew to the slough behind the store which was rich in reeds.

 Now watch......

They fly closer and closer to the ground until they settle into the reeds in the slough, chattering and chirping about the day's events.

We don't know what they do when they wake up in the morning......