On Monday, I tried 2 X for the blackbird, missing on both the AM and the PM attempts. The flock was very active along Rt.25, from Edwards Ave to points west. It came back to feed in the fields behind the Windy Acres Farm Stand at least 4 X , while I was there. The farthest west I saw the flock was in trees on the n/s/o Rt. 25, just before the Rt. 25A split. On Tuesday, I invested ~ 5 hours before finding the bird (1 of 3 reported) at ~ 3 PM, at a location, from which it had been reported previously. Upon first finding the flock (~ 11:15 AM) in a field on the n/s of Rt. 25, e/o Edwards Ave, and right past the Calverton Deli, all it's activity was to the east of this location.The flock spent it's time equally between feeding on the ground and hanging out in the trees. It ranged as far east as Tuomhy Ave, with the bird (a female, or imm. male) in the trees on the s/s of Rt. 25, just before the road which takes you to the Spish Splash Water Park (there is a traffic light at this intersection). This bird was a tough one to get, almost 180 degree turn-around from my 1st NYS Yellow-headed Blackbird, a female at a Centereach, L.I. feeder, on 2/25/78. Gil Raynor, on a "telephone tip" from Tom Davis, had set up a Saturday AM appointment with the owner, a wonderful lady who had a real active feeder complex. She was at the door when we arrived, marched us through her fairly small home, and in less than 5 minutes, was looking at the bird through her kitchen window. I evidently did not write her name down, but I do remember hearing that due to her meeting the many birders who came to see the blackbird, she went on to become a member of NAS, possibly Great South Bay Audubon. A few minutes in a heated house and then "pay day" - as opposed to ~ 5 hours (probably 4+ out of the car) cold, some light snow, not much sun and a mass of thousands of birds which didn't stay motionless very long...but who's complaining ? -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --