I observed a flock of at least 50 Common Redpoll while visiting the
Parker River (Plum Island) NWR in Massachusetts during Thanksgiving
week.  The redpolls were feeding on birch tree catkins. 

Tom Marko
Olney, MD
Montgomery Bird Club


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Gail B. Mackiernan <>
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 10:11 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] eBird article on the current irruption of boreal
species

 Maybe we should all pray for a few more 'Blue Northers" out of Canada
and Maine to blow some of these birds down to us -- I just read the
Maine bird report:

"Sightings too numerous to list of NORTHERN SHRIKES, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS,
PINE GROSBEAKS and COMMON REDPOLLS continue state-wide, with scattered
reports of EVENING GROSBEAKS."

Recall the invasion of Crossbills a number of years ago occurred
primarily in January and February, and the 2004 Bohenian Waxwing was
also a February bird, so there is still time. 

Mild winters are nice ...but maybe we need some stiff weather to get
these guys to decide to come south!

Gail Mackiernan
Colesville, MD

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Stan Arnold <>
> That was a good article, Bill.  Thanks much for sharing it with us.
> 
> Did I miss the paragraph declaring that Pine Grosbeaks were coming to
> Maryland?
> 
> Stan Arnold
> 
> 
><snip>