I went to Lynnhaven Inlet at 1 PM to look for the Yellow headed Blackbird.
After a couple of laps of the car park, boat ramp and beach following the
loose flock of Boat tailed Grackles there was no sign of the YH Blackbird.
As I walked across the car park suddenly every male Grackle on the lamp
posts dropped to the ground. My first thought was bird of prey and had heard
an Osprey calling, but looked and there was nothing .... until at fence
level a Merlin came over from the bay in hot pursuit of a BT Grackle. The
grackle dropped and the Merlin wheeled up looking to make another pass but I
guess it saw that everyone knew it was there so it turned and flew over the
Lesner bridge and towards the sea.
Shortly after that on my third circuit I found the Yellow Headed Blackbird
at the end of the car park at the bay end, pretty much on its own foraging
in the weeds by a double row of picket fence. As previously reported it
was approachable and watched it for 10-15 minutes as it foraged. I left it
there still feeding
Peace and light
John Shaw
Virginia Beach
