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