After viewing the Northern Shrike for an hour yesterday, Winger West and I continued birding in Kent County. We were traveling northeast on 213 when we witnessed clouds of 1000s of Brown-headed Cowbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Common Grackles feeding in the fields and trees. The clouds continued as we made our way to Galena and southeast to Massey. While we were in the Millington Wildlife Management Area (MWMA), birds continued to flyover. The noise they made was quite cacophonous but totally awesome.

Bad news for MD, we estimated cowbirds made up about 80% of 10,000 +/- total birds.

BTW, need an American Woodcock in Kent County? In the MWMA from Maryland Line Rd, take Black Bottom Rd north (or from Delaware Line Rd, take Black Bottom Rd south) and park in the last(first) parking area on the east side. Start out on the trail and take the first left. Follow the trail as it takes you through some new growth on right and woods/marshy area on the left. This is the spot - good luck. The directions were provided to us by a hunter and his beautiful and quite talented dog who had flushed a woodcock for her master. We got a look at the bagged woodcock closeup (but we were unable to find one ourselves). Wish she could have come along with us! 

Yesterday, we had a Swainson's Thrush in the parking lot and one in the spot.

Marcy Stutzman
Russett, MD