More White-winged Crossbills in Harford County

David W. Webb (webb@netfox.net)
Sun, 21 Dec 1997 15:52:39 -0800 

Folks,

   I returned to the Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation this
morning with my wife and son hoping to relocate the flock of WW
Crossbills that Les Eastman and I saw yesterday.  We walked around
several stands of white pines for about an hour and a half.  Although
Red-breasted Nuthatches were quite common, we found no winter
finches of any kind.

   Just before leaving I stopped at camp HQ to check out and report
of our lack of success.  We had just loaded our son into the van
and were 30 seconds from leaving when a flock of about 15 to 20
crossbills flew over the parking lot and landed in the pines just
east of the manager's residence.  We got out the scope and confirmed
them as White-winged Crossbills.  I saw or heard no evidence of Red
Crossbills in the group.

   They fed in the tops of the pines for about 5 minutes, and then
we lost sight of them.  They had not moved far because after a few
more minutes I saw them fly eastward over the trees and out of view
for good.

   Camp management will allow visitors to come and look for the
crossbills, however they have set the following ground rules:

1)  On weekends, you may check in at the camp headquarters in
    person (directions below).  Ask them to direct you towards
    the Lucinda Jacobs Health Lodge.  That's where yesterday's
    flock was seen, and close to today's sighting, although
    any of the pine stands in that area are worth checking.
2)  On weekdays, you must call the camp first to arrange a
    visit.  The numbers are 410-452-8155 or 410-879-4922.

Directions to camp HQ from Baltimore area:  Take I-95 to Exit 80 and
MD 543 north.  Take 543 north for 1.5 miles and turn right onto
MD 136 north.  Go about 12 miles north (you will have crossed MD
22, US 1, and MD 440 along the way).  Turn right onto Peach Orchard
Road.  After 1.5 miles turn right onto Susquehanna Hall Road, and
after another .5 mile turn right into the camp entrance.  The
camp HQ is the first building on the right after 100 yards.