I birded Governor's Bridge Natural Area this morning before work. A variety of birds were present, but the highlight was a low flyover female White-winged Crossbill. I was just past the pines and the old pavillion when the bird flew overhead, calling as it went. For a flyover bird it was fairly low and I got some decent, if brief glimpses of the yellowish wash to the underparts, faint streaking on the flank, and longish tail and wings which appeared grayish from below. I suppose that the bird could have been in the pines near the pavillion, but when I saw and heard the bird it was passing overhead, probably 30 or 40 feet above me. The bird continued in flight towards Governor's Bridge Road (to the north), where I lost sight of it behind the trees. I distinguished the bird from a Red Crossbill by the call note, which it repeated several times overhead. Other birds of interest included a group of Red-breasted Nuthatches working the pines near the pavillion, a male Purple Finch in the clearing past the pavillion, and a large flock of Cedar Waxwings.
I suspect that the bird was just passing through and it appeared to continue to fly away from the park. However, for those not familiar with the pavillion area, it can be very active birdwise. When you are in the main parking lot off Governor's Bridge Road, instead of walking towards the boat ramp or along the gravel road towards the pond, take the trail in the opposite direction up the wooded hillside. The pavillion, a small stand of pines, and a regenerating, second growth area are located about a quarter mile (or less) up the trail. I suppose the crossbill could have been working this stand of pines. The trail to the pavillion is right off the parking lot and is directly across the parking lot from the port-a-pots. Thank you to everyone who has posted about flyovers in recent weeks. Because of these sightings, I've been listening to call and song recordings of the winter finches daily, and it paid off today. Good birding,
Fred Shaffer
<GlaucousGull...>
Crofton, Anne Arundel
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