Forgive a couple of typos in the original note. I meant to say "was 1" where I first had "were 2" at the end. T
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From: <mdbirding...> [<mdbirding...>] On Behalf Of Timothy Houghton [<thoughton...>]
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 4:24 PM
To: <mdbirding...>
Subject: [MDBirding] WW Cross Show, cRedpoll: Ft. Smallwood, 1/8
Best show I've ever seen with WW Crosses (and first time here). Probably 50 in the area. Had 15 in two pines when I first got there, including what appeared to be a streaky juvenile. Evenly split btw male and female. Then no sightings for an hour but with several flight calls. Then at noon they seemed to appear from everywhere and were in a half dozen or so pine trees. Lots of them. Then at noon a group of 25 took off high into the air and kind of played up there for awhile (calling), nearly hovering for a second, then going in one direction, then stopping, going off in another direction, then backtracking--never seen anything quite like it. Now I know why this is the place to go for these birds. The flock of 25 roared down and dispersed into several pines. Right around that time, other birders and photographers arrived. Most of the birders were looking for a redpoll.
I then went looking for a redpoll. Don't know if the one I found is "the one" that people seem to be reporting, but it looked to be a female or immature--no pink that I could see. Dark red forehead, dark bib, streaked side--small bird with tiny bill. It got my attention at first b/c of its small size and lighter tone. It was on the ground in a weedy/brushy area toward far end in the middle, mixed with goldfinches with white-throated sparrows nearby. Can't say for certain that any notes I heard belonged to it. Wouldn't it be nice if there are more than one. Two years ago everyone thought there were 2 shrikes at Irvine when there were actually 2. And with redpolls, wouldn't be surprised if more are there.
Tim Houghton
(Glen Arm)
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