Crossbilll Success in Balto Co

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My quest for Crossbills in Baltimore Co was successful. I cruised around
the west side of the Prettyboy Reservoir area for a few hours in the
early afternoon, Dec 26, mainly on twisty, scenic Gunpowder Rd, which
runs north from Falls Rd near Mt Carmel Rd. (Rt 137). Around 1:30 I
heard some probable White-winged Crossbills fly over a large area of
white pines on Gunpowder Rd about 1/2 mile north of Beckleysville Rd. I
went towards where they flew, and they flew off again before I could get
a positive ID.

I decided to wait them out there. About 2:00 PM two vocal Red Crossbills
flew over, one red male and a female.  About 2:20 I heard some noise and
saw some activity in the distant pine tree that I just happened to have
set my scope on, and indeed they were White-wings. Then they flew to the
top of a much closer pine where I gorged on the sight of the two bright
males and three females. Then they flew off giving me a good sample of
their call notes, which are similar in pitch and rhythm to the Reds, but
raspier, with a less musical tone. (My tapes don't give good examples of
their flight notes as opposed to their hyperactive junco-like songs.)

In the morning, several of us checked out the Pine Ridge Golf Course
site, off Dulaney Valley Rd. We had a quick fly-over of 4 Red
Crossbills, and a possible fly-over White-wing. I heard later from my
partners that they got nothing further there during the afternoon.

Only 21 counties to go!

Steve Sanford

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