While out looking for the Harlequin and the White Pelicans of Dorchester
County, I also got a chance to thoroughly study one of the huge blackbird
flocks that the region is known to host.  This afternoon, at the
intersection of Woods Road and Rte 16, a flock of about 30,000 birds was
using one of the fields - feeding, bathing, and whatever.  They moved only a
little as cars came by, then eventually all lifted up to perches in the
nearby trees. Careful inspection showed two birds with white tail feathers
(Common Grackles), but no evidence of any Yellow-headed Blackbird.  The
flock was almost entirely Common Grackles - the sprinkling of others
included about 1000 Starlings, 600 Cowbirds, and 300 Red-wings. (30,000
could be a low estimate - there actually may have been twice that many!)

Back close to home on this 50+ degree day, a bat was flying near my Talbot
County driveway.

Les Roslund

Talbot County
Easton MD 21601