Bernice and Earl Hall got a call from a friend in rural McLeod Cty. to report an unusual large blackbird making strange clicking and clacking and clucking noises. We identified it as a Great-tailed Grackle. The calls and sound effects were diagnostic, and it was much bigger than the Common Grackles nearby. There might also have been a female there, seen only briefly. If so, maybe they are sticking around? We believe this would be a 1st McLeod Cty. record. The homeowners said they have been hearing and seeing this bird since Sunday (4/28). This site is about 5 miles west of Hutchinson near the Renville Cty. line. Bernice and Earl Hall also found a Cattle Egret today on the west side of Hutchinson, again in McLeod Cty. A nice daily double for such a dreary chilly May day! Pete Hoeger, Hutchinson ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html