A flock suddenly appeared the other day right outside the apartment. They stuck around for a couple of hours. Here are various members of the group. Yes, snacks were had.
A malfunctioning gutter is a standby bathing and drinking spot for the local Starlings, House Sparrows, and Mourning Doves. The Grackles put it to use, too. About sixteen of them in this photo.
They were not as noisy as they can be in springtime, but some of their delightful calls could be heard.
Backyard and Beyond 
Usually I see flocks of grackles (100 or more) that hang around for a few days in the fall before migrating south. Their return in the spring was my personal “notice of spring.”
I didn’t see them this year. I wonder if they have joined the other birds that used to disappear as winter approached – robins having been my spring notice when I was growing up in south Jersey.
Think they might be like robins, turning to flocks and moving around a lot as they search for food. I’ve seen one for two this winter passing overhead, but his flock of maybe 50 was a surprise.
global warming?