AUGUST 9, TUESDAY.
Dismal Swamp smoke: There’s a pervasive, blue-gray smoky haze
everywhere we go in Talbot County [MD] today. It is from a 2,500-acre wildfire
in Dismal Swamp that has been burning for 5 days, started by lightning. This
smoke has traveled 120 miles to get here. It is so intense that you’d think it
was from a neighbor’s house or field. In the Tilghman Island area we get 3
different stories about the smoke, all incorrect. I wouldn’t have been
surprised if, had we had a fourth story, we hear it was started by Martians. I
thank Bob Anderson and Nancy Lytell for getting it right for us. Disappointing
that no Swainson's Warblers came with it. SWWA would be a nice new one for the
yard list.
Several years ago in summer, with our windows open, there was so
much smoke we thought something was burning in the kitchen. That was from
another Dismal Swamp fire. Hard to believe. - Best to all. - Harry Armistead.
