With many home duties today, I opted for a quick trip to nearby Blendon Woods.  The temperature and the leafy forest barely hinted at October; quite frankly, it felt more like July.  The birds don't seem to be fooled: warblers are on the wane, but blackbirds were back big time.  Highlights included:

Flycatchers - Phoebes at several locations, and still 2 Wood Pewees along the trail to Thoreau Lake.

Vireos - 1 red-eyed was foraging along the Overlook trail

Blue Jays - not nearly as many as I expected, with only about 25 in 2 hours

Red-br.Nuthatch - 1 was calling near the Thoreau lake blinds

Thrushes - a few Swainson's were at several locations along the forested trails, while two flocks of E.Bluebirds (5, 6) graced the field areas

Warblers - modest numbers, with Yellow-rumps most common (8), followed by Bl-thr.Greens (6).  Also found were 2 Bl.throated Blue females (1 on Streamside Trail, the other on the trail to Thoreau Lake), as well as single Tennessee, Nashville, Ovenbird, Redstart, Wilson's, and Common Yellowthroat

Sparrows - still largely missing, with resident Fields and Chippings still around, plus only a few small flocks of White-throateds

Blackbirds - small flocks of Redwings early, followed by large flocks of Grackles later.  At one point walking down the Streamside trail, I heard a loud raspy rumbling and thought "Who the heck would bring a leaf blower on the trail?"  In fact, as it got closer, I realized it was a big flock of grackles calling as they moved through the canopy.  A quick estimate put that flock at close to 2000 birds.  Later in the morning, I watched an even bigger flock fly over the north parking area.  It took them a good 10 minutes to fly by, and I counted about 4400-4500 birds in this flock.  I'd

Finches - Purple Finches continue to become a daily treat, this time with singles along the Goldenrod Trail and the Cherry Bottom picnic area.

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