Went to Patuxent N.T. this morning with 2 of my kids and met another birder there. arrived at 8 (when they open); and after exchanging phone #s with a another birder we met (Chris Barnard - thanks!!), we were close by when he found some and called. We were able to get there in time for a brief look at a big flock of perched Red Crossbills. It was the largest group I have seen in MD to date, and I got some audio recording and sent to Cornell for type analysis. So far all I've heard of confirmed at this site have been type 3s, but since this was a big flock maybe it was new or had something different. We also saw smaller flyover flocks (2+, 2+, 16) three times earlier, but none landed (I still got audio recordings for two of them). Another group was heard but not seen at the Visitor Center, as soon as we first got out of car at 8 am. Sadly we did not see them and I was not ready yet to record.
Another birder (Jim S) arrived at 9 and we exchanged info; he had just tried to see the large flock of WWCRs reported this week at the apartment site close by in Laurel (Barrel House Rd), with no luck. Despite this we also tried about 9:30, and also came up empty. I think this flock may have moved on.
Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
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