Re: Carroll Crossbills

Howard Youth (hmyouth@erols.com)
Sat, 17 Jan 1998 07:54:35 -0500 (EST) 

Dear Tom,

        It was great meeting you at Pine Knob last week, and congrats on red
crossbills at Deer Park. Persistence pays off! Now that we've seen Carroll
crossbills, let's keep our eyes on the scattered Norway spruces and white
pines of Montgomery County. There just have to be some crossbills outside of
Poolesville! 
        I too would highly recommend bringing a scope to Pine Knob and Deer
Park. 
        Again, great meeting you. We're expecting a baby this May, so it
will be an added birding challenge like yours. One of the first things I
plan to buy is a baby birder backpack. Have you had any experience with one
of those?
      
        All the best, Howard Youth
                        Rockville, MD
                        hmyouth@erols.com

  At 12:06 PM 1/13/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Howard Youth wrote about seeing White-winged Crossbills 
>at Pine Knob Road on Jan. 11.
>
>Howard, I was there with my mother-in-law, the other birders 
>without a scope!  (Had I realized these birds are so cooperative, 
>I would have brought my scope - a hint to others who go to look 
>for these birds.)  I assume you were one of the party of three 
>who found the crossbills in the bare trees as you were leaving. 
>Thanks again for that discovery!
>
>When we left, we decided to give Deer Park Rd. one last 
>desperate try. Aside from a large flock of siskins we saw as 
>we walked along the right-of-way, the place was pretty much 
>dead. Then, as we got back to our car, another couple of 
>birders who had headed up to the road before us waved 
>frantically to us. They had just found three very cooperative 
>Red Crossbills feeding in the top of a pine at the edge of 
>the road - one male and two females.
>
>I'm new to this list - I've been a Maryland birder since 1969, 
>but my birding has taken a back seat to parenting for the last 
>several years. I get out a few times a year, though, this past 
>Sunday being one example. My thanks to those who found 
>these birds, and to those on this list who have been providing 
>such good updates. The White-wings were lifers for me!
>
>Tom Stock
>Silver Spring
>
!
>!
>

>
>