(Fwd) Both Crossbills in MD

Norm Saunders (osprey@ARI.Net)
Wed, 24 Dec 1997 05:11:52 -0500 

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From:          Miliff <Miliff@aol.com>
Date:          Tue, 23 Dec 1997 20:30:15 EST
Subject:       Both Crossbills in MD

Hi all,

       Today George Jett and I had some luck with crossbills in the
       Liberty
Reservoir area.  We arrived at Gene's office off Oakland Rd. at 7:00
am and remained for an hour, listening and watching for crossbills. 
Aside from two Red Crossbills which flew over at 7:40 (and audio tape
made) we didn't have anything more than several squadrons of
Red-breasted Nuthatches.
       We moved from there up to the Deer Park Rd. powerline, less
       than a mile
west of the reservoir crossing in Carroll County right where the road
turns to go slightly to the southwest (i.e. not the powerline crossing
2-3 miles further weston the northbound section of rd.).  On the
DeLorme atlas it is map
#74, D2.  We hiked west from Deer Park Rd. (there is ample parking) and at
about the point where the powerline right of way dips to the lowest
ravine (about .25 mile) we had two flocks of Red Crossbills (6 and 7)
fly high overhead and almost immediately thereafter 25 White-winged
Crossbills landed atop a Whtie Pine along the powerline and fed
actively for 3 minutes.  They were silent upon arrival and while
feeding, but as the flew off they gave several very soft "chet" notes
- Redpoll like but so soft that we might have missed them had we not
been watching the birds.  The time was about 9:00 and after 15 more
minutes without crossbills we left.   Mark Hoffman, Gail MacKiernan,
and Barry Coooper were there in the afternoon and apparently had
nothing, but the habitat there is extensive (White Pines and
Loblollies along powerline and extending to reservoir).  White Pines
in the Liberty area appear to have a great cone crop, and all reports
I have heard so far of feeding birds have been in White Pine. 
       We then went to the Harford county Boy Scout Camp site where
       6-10 Red
Crossbills made periodic appearance from 10:30-1:00 and allowed for
some good audio recordings.   Elk Neck State Forest later today had
almost nothing, hardley  even a chickadee.

      Good luck to all who try for these birds - the habitat seems to
      be good
enough for them to stay for a while.  Keep us all posted on your
success and feel free to call me if you have any questions about the
directions.

       Good birding,

                      Marshall Iliff   

===============
Norm Saunders
Colesville, MD
osprey@ari.net