Thanks Regina. EAPHs have been singing and looking around!
My original quick guess like the list says was 400. I was "a bit" under.
On Wed, Feb 28, 2018 at 4:56 PM, R.Schwabe <gwpchi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Had about 40 cowbirds at the feeders a few days ago and a phoebe checking
out nesting sites.
My guess: 260 blackbirds. Am I even close?
Regina
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*From: *Evan Spears <e3spears@xxxxxxxxx>
*Sent: *Wednesday, February 28, 2018 3:32 PM
*To: *heartofvabirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject: *[heartofvabirds] Raptor Rally & Blackbird Blitz (Feb 2018)
If you've been out and about recently you may have noticed quite a bit
more bird activity than compared to the past few quiet weeks. I've been
seeing a few more hawks than usual and even had really nice looks at
several of them in one field in under 10 minutes along Francisco Road in
Buckingham County.
--- https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42720120
Blackbirds also have begun to appear in our region. A few of us have
already witnessed some massive flocks of mostly Common Grackles and
Red-winged Blackbirds with the occasional Brown-headed Cowbird group or a
single/few Rusty Blackbirds mixed in. I passed a large flock on Holiday
Lake Road in Appomattox County a week ago and had to estimate quickly, so I
snapped a picture of the majority and wrote down my estimate on the eBird
checklist.* How many blackbirds do you think are in the photo? I've
counted them all using multiple photos and will reveal the answer after
several guesses.*
--- https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S43240012
You'll also notice I have two Tree Swallows on that previous list, and
there were nearly 40 at Sandy River Reservoir a few days ago (along with
our thinning duck flocks). Expect to see even more birds in the coming
weeks with our next arrivals being more swallows in mid-March and then
Louisiana Waterthrush and Yellow-throated Warbler at the end of the month.
--- https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S43236307
--- https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S43236285
--- https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S43254381
Evan Spears
Farmville, VA
