[MDOsprey] Winter birds a'coming
GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Thu, 25 Nov 99 08:54:54 EST
Hi all --
First, hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving --- at last, one "bird" that
we can enjoy without use of bins or scope!
Second -- there have been a number of posts about incoming winter birds --
Northern Shrikes are poised just to our north and even more interesting to
a Maryland birder is the recent report of a flock of PINE GROSBEAKS (!!) in
Centre County, PA (near State College), only a relatively short distance to
the north of Maryland as the grosbeak (hopefully) flies.
In winter, Pine Grosbeaks should be looked for in abandoned orchards,
plantings of ornamental crabapples (esp. if the fruit is frozen), and
in rowan (Mountain Ash). They also sometimes come to feeders. I have
actually never found them in pines in winter (at least in Maine).
Old orchards and fruiting trees are also the place to look for Bohemian
Waxwings, although these are still further north -- however, large flocks
have been reported in New Hampshire, rather early for such an invasion even
in New England. Who knows, maybe another one or two will make it to Maryland
(for those who missed the 1994 bird!). If you find a large flock of Cedars,
give them a look-through. You never know...
Cheers, Gail Mackiernan