Carroll County Crossbills-12/24/97
MHoff36100 (MHoff36100@aol.com)
Wed, 24 Dec 1997 13:02:35 EST
I birded at the Deer Park Road location (just W of Liberty Reservoir, Carroll
County, MD) this morning (12/24/97) from 0700 to 1115, looking for the
crossbills reported yesterday (see prior post from Marshall Iliff). Paul
Pisano was with me from about 0830 on.
We spent most of our time in the power line right-of-way, N of Deer Park Road
(this is the right-of-way closest to the bridge, there is another one farther
W). We also walked the perimeter of the white pine grove on the S side of Deer
Park Road. You can park right by the powerlines, which kind of parallels the
road.
During the course of the morning we observed Red Crossbills on multiple
occasions: 1) a flock of 18 feeding on the S side of the right-of-way, just N
of the road), 2) fly-overs of 7+, 3) a pair feeding S of the Road, on the edge
of the right-of-way. All the feeding birds were in white pines loaded with
cones. There are several patches of this habitat along the right-of-way.
Patience is required.
We observed White-winged Crossbills at least twice. A fly-over flock of about
10 at 1015, from the right-of-way. The redpoll-like chatter was heard and the
wing-bars were clearly visible in flight. Later we had a flock of 12 feeding
on white pines, just N of Deer Park Road on the S side of the right-of-way.
Even more patience is required.
This was my sixth attempt for WWCR in the past couple weeks, and I'm glad it
finally paid off. Those child support checks can get pretty expensive. State
bird #373.
Merry Christmas!!
Mark L. Hoffman
Sykesville, MD
Mhoff36100@aol.com