Around 1:30 pm today while on my way to the Easton Landfill, I came
across an interesting blackbird flock beside Chilcutt Road.  The birds were
close to the north side of the road, and in a cornfield close to a wooded
area.  There was enough room to pull off for observation at that point, even
though most of that road is pretty narrow.
    The flock proved to carry quite close to 400 birds.  Of these, at least
150 were Rusty Blackbirds.  The rest were Red-winged Blackbirds along with
about 5 Starlings.  With all of my previous observations of Rusty
Blackbirds, the total would be less than 50, so I found this to be quite a
fascinating sight.  The birds cooperated nicely, so I could attain a quite
accurate count.  
 
    Earlier today there was a Red-shouldered Hawk beside Glebe Road near the
Easton Industrial Park.  A Red-tailed Hawk was present near the Waste Water
Treatment Plant, along with two Bald Eagles.  Fourteen Killdeer were present
in a field near the WWTP.  Two Snow Geese could be seen from a distance
amongst the Canada Geese on the WWTP grounds.
 
    My home list on Leeds Creek stands at 31 species for 2009, including
Pine Siskins (2), Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), and Belted Kingfisher.
Goldfinch numbers have reached 12.  A Great-horned Owl was calling last
night.
 
Les Roslund
Talbot County
Easton MD 21601