On the way to a gig in Williamsburg on Friday, I was delighted to see
tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of Grackles flying above in blobs
of swirling clouds.  Their flocks stretched for miles, just after
entering VA via the 301 bridge.

While working in Calvert Countyearlier this week, I saw another one of
those giant Grackle flocks moving overhead in Prince Frederick, then
again in Upper Marlboro, etc. etc. etc.

I have been aware of their winter absence here in Anne Arundel County.
 Well, some portion of that flock has now officially descended in West
Annapolis.

Now if only some crossbills would visit my neighbors Hemlocks... or my feeders.

Good Birding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD




On Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 9:36 PM, Leo Weigant <> wrote:
> Gail,         I've meant to thank you before for catalyzing the whole skein
> of
> "signs of spring."    It's been delightful and I've been noticing them
> everywhere.
>
> This afternoon in a local mall, I noticed two 1st-year male house sparrows
> fighting.
> They'd fly at each other; one would get a bit of elevation and force the
> other down
> on its back and peck away at its face & throat over & over.   This happened
> several
> times, apparently with the same bird on top each time.   I've seen birds
> fight before
> (once years ago at Great Falls, VA, two red-bellied WP males were so tangled
> up
> with each other that they dropped on the ground right at my feet, still
> fighting)
> but this insistent ferocity seemed a little out-of character for house
> sparrows.
> But then, as Ecclesiastes said: "There is nothing new under the sun" I
> suppose.
>
> Leo Weigant
>
> PS I'm hoping to get over to Centennial Park (finally) tomorrow and wondered
> if
> you've heard of any more sightings of the red-necked grebe at Brighton Dam
> --
> and, since it's been years since I've been there, where would be the best
> place
> to look.   I have my trusty DeLorme Atlas and can get to the dam.   Has it
> been seen
> right around there?
>
> On Feb 10, 2009, at 7:58 AM, Gail Mackiernan wrote:
>
>> Our Witch Hazel has been out for some days now and since Sunday has been
>> frequented by honeybees (real honeybees, Apis melifera) -- we must have a
>> hive in the area but not sure if a wild one or if an unknown neighbor
>> keeps
>> bees. Also the Snowdrops are blooming in sheltered areas. Yesterday saw
>> droves of Robins stripping the berries from our hollies and the neighbor's
>> large tree, accompanied by 3-4 Cedar Waxwings. The resident Mocker tried
>> to
>> defend his berries and his water feature, to no avail! By evening the
>> hollies were almost bare, the robins then scattered over the ground
>> gleaning
>> fallen fruit. Today they are gone...off to some other feeding area!
>>
>> Still have our Siskins!
>>
>> Gail Mackiernan
>> Colesville, MD
>