November 8:  Today, a large flock of Rusty Blackbirds in a residential neighborhood in Colchester, CT.  This is a species that has shown seriously declining numbers over the past two decades, and one that one doesn’t see too often. Thanks to Annie and Mike Perko for the heads-up on this sizable flock which numbered at least seventy birds. Over the ninety minutes that I observed them, the flock would repeatedly stage in several adjacent tall trees before working down to a dogwood tree, and then down to the ground to feed on the red dogwood berries.