Crossbills
Robert Ringler (ringler@cct.infi.net)
Sat, 20 Dec 1997 18:54:26 -0800
I spent the day looking for crossbills around the Liberty
watershed office compound in Carroll Co. I was there from 0725-1005 and
1405-1520. Though I did not see any crossbills in the morning, Dave
Harvey and Gail Frantz saw about 5 Red Crossbills there around 0815 in
the big pine near the woodpile and fairly close to the road. In the
afternoon a flock of calling crossbills flew into the pines in the far
back of the compound between the offices and the residence. They were
too far away to be identified positively though they sounded and looked
like Reds. Since the compound is closed on the weekend I had to get the
telescope. The birds had disappeared into the pines but occasionally
moved around. About five minutes later a pair of White-winged Crossbills
moved to the front of one of the many bundles of pine cones and allowed
myself and Robert Hilton a clear view in the Questar. After they dropped
out of sight it was nother ten minutes before the next bird showed itself
when a female Red Crossbill jumped to the peak of one of the trees and
perched for a few minutes, eventually turning for a broadside view.
There were a few Pine Siskins around in the morning, but other birders
found a large flock of siskins near the boat ramp. Red-breasted
Nuthatches are common in the watershed.
Bob Ringler