This afternoon, about 2 PM, I was driving North on Conlon Road in Lansing. Just past where Searles Rd extension comes into Conlon Rd. on the right - at an angle, there are cornfields on both sides. There were thousands of Blackbirds on both sides, in the road and in the surrounding treetops. As I watched the birds in the road, suddenly a Yellow-headed Blackbird (male) pops out among the crowd. I watched it for about 15 -20 seconds and the whole bunch lifted up and I was able to follow it for a bit. I thought it maybe went up into the trees. I tried to refind it but did not right away. Maybe 20 minutes later I was following a flock that had lifted up and out popped that yellow head and the white primary coverts. I followed it for several seconds till the whole bunch turned and lost it again.
This huge flock was mostly Red-winged, and I spotted some females, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Common Grackles. Quite the spectacle and sounds!
