Howdy folks!  I'm feeding the birds alright, but trying not to use inappropriate adjectives in front of the kids!  x!$*ing grackles!!

Our feeding stations were all invaded by the local hoodlums at about 8 am today, and they have bullied away the good birds.  We would normally see great diversity of birds feeding here in a snowstorm, but with the grackle flock camped out here it is highly unlikely today.  Grackles are often picky eaters and sometimes I can put out feed they do not like, but today they are eating anything and everything.  The grackles are so focused on eating now they do not spook, and I could catch them with a net.  The problem is, I'm afraid that with the long range weather forecast the grackles may stay here for the next few weeks.  I am not going to stop feeding the birds though, I just have to hope the other songbirds get enough scraps to sustain them...

I have not been outside to look around yet, so the following list could probably expand if/when I get out.

As of 11 am (includes yard, swamp and Patuxent River - although I have only been able to see it periodically):

Canada Goose 4
Mallard 4
Bald Eagle 1 adult
Cooper's Hawk 1 (It caught and ate a grackle in the station area, and birds kept feeding even though it was here!)
Killdeer 3
Ring-billed Gull 13
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Eastern Towhee 2
Song Sparrow 4
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 19
Dark-eyed Junco 5
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 37
Rusty Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 144
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 1

Cheers - Jeff Shenot
Croom Md