Hi all,
 It's been some time since I posted, but thought this woud be of interest.

 A short time ago (between 1:45 & 2 PM) as I stepped out from my shop, I heard a distant noise, like a machine whirring in the farmers field next door. Then I looked up and saw a soaring Red-tailed Hawk, which went into a stoop over the woods next to the field. When I looked that way I noticed a large flock of black birds around the tops of the trees. They were Common Grackles, and as I watched they flew out into the field, then into my neighbors side yard grass, then into our backyard, then into the farmers side yard, then swirling en masse into the area around his pond. Each time they moved they would land and feed briefly before flying up and moving again. It was quite a spectacle to watch. My daughter was home early from work, and I called her out to watch. Our dog was out in the yard during this and he actually just stood and watched too. The horses in the far fields were sort of freaked out by all the commotion and were running around in their fields too.

We estimated approx. 4-5000 birds, perhaps more. Each time I thought the flock was "entire" more would fly from the woods. It was really incredible. The hawks (there were actually a pair) were soaring over and hunting, but with the sheer number of swirling birds this proved difficult. To see an entire 4-6 acre field entirely covered with grackles feeding ; quite a sight!

Rick Sussman
Wodbine (Carroll County) MD

P.S. A couple of evenings ago when I left the shop, around 4:40 PM I watched a large flock of grackles flying over going to roost, beyond the woods where I just watched them. It was neat to see that many in the air then, but there were even more today.