crossbills
Warblerick@aol.com
Sat, 31 Jan 1998 13:06:11 EST
Hi to all mdospreyers!
We just got back from (another) successful trip to Liberty Reservoir to see
the crossbills. Leaving my house around 7:45 we arrived at Pine Knob Rd.
around 8:20 or so, and saw a small number of birders peering into the pines.
As we got out, we inquired about the xbills and found that there were good
numbers right in the tops of the pines adjacent to our parked van. We set our
scopes up (MIke Moffatt, Frank Boyle, myself and my youngest daughter Alli).
Had really excellent views of a large flock of Red Crossbills (as they flew
off later we determined it to number somewhere near 40 birds!). Chaff was
falling everywhere as they fed. A passing vehicle scared them off, and a short
time later we drove up to Deer Park Rd. where we saw and heard nothing other
than some Red-breasted Nuthatches.
After leaving here we again went to Pine Knob Rd. and heard news that we had
missed a small number of White-wings. But being patient, we waited and shortly
we found 3 Whiteys flying over and perching in a tulip poplar and seemingly
feeding on the buds, not the seed pods. Nice views through scopes, and we were
able to move in fairly close for better looks. A nice male and two females.
Patience seems the key with these cooperative birds; we ran into one couple
that kept missing the birds by only minutes. Every time they went to place A,
the birds would alight in place B and vice versa. When we again ran into them
at Brueggers Bagels in Sykesville, they told us that they went to turn around
at the reservoir bridge, picked up a nail in their tire and had to get it
fixed at Walmart while they waited at Brueggers. Still had not seen either
species. I hope they didn't give up, as the birds are certainly worth waiting
for.
Bob Ringler, the Metters, and others were there this morning. Still a fun
trip!
Rick Sussman
Warblerick@aol.com