Balto Crossbills and O-c Warbler
Stephen G Sanford (tanager@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us)
Sat, 17 Jan 1998 22:43:29 -0500
The Baltimore County mid-winter count was held today and featured -
would you believe - crossbills. Counters at Pine Ridge Golf Course (Off
Dulaney Valley Rd, north of Towson) had about 30 Red Crossbills and 3
White-wings around the main parking area from about 9 to noon.
Another party (Pete Webb and I) had about 40 Red Crossbills in 5 to 6
visits over four hours in far NW Balto Co on Gunpowder Rd 1/2 mile north
of Beckleysville Rd. Nine stopped and fed in good view. We had one
probable fly-over WW Crossbill there. The crossbills seemed to like to
fly to the northwest, but we're not sure where they ended up.
For those interested in recording crossbill calls, this is a location
worth consideration. The crossbills are not as abundant as the Liberty
Lake area, but it is very quiet in terms of traffic - only about one car
every five minutes, and essentially no people. (One route there is to go
up I-795 and Md 30 to Hampstead, then follow the signs "to Md 137" for a
few miles, but stick with Gunpowder Rd when it splits. But use a map!)
The count also had an Orange-crowned Warbler in the harbor area, but I
don't know the details.
Steve Sanford