I second George's notion that WWCR may still be on the move south. I spent
Christmas in Ithaca, NY and had many flocks of WWCR. My impression was
that the birds were very restless and erratic, on constant move in search
for food. They fed on both pine, spruce, and hemlock cone seeds and
according to the few local birders I met the numbers were down compared to
November. Most of the Norway spruce had already dropped their (abundant!)
seeds so I would imagine they would continue south in search of
alternative sources of food.

And George - I bet you regret not doing the Big Photo Year in 2009 as the
year is shaping up;)

Happy New Year to All!

Frode

> Folks
>
> I just got a call from Kevin Graff.  He reports that his birding group
> found about 12 White-winged Crossbills (WWCR) along the Skeet Trap Trail
> at the Lock Raven Watershed.  The birds flew from a spruce tree, and were
> not relocated.
>
> The good news is this species may still be invading southward.  Stay on
> the lookout for WWCR, as well as other finches, such as Red Crossbills,
> Redpolls, and Pine Grosbeak for you birders in western MD.  A free lunch
> for the person who finds the first Boreal Owl.  Dreamer!
>
> Kevin will likely report details later, and a complete list.
>
> This is shaping up as one of the best Januarys to bird in MD ever.  Now
> all we need is a good pelagic and GREAT SKUA.  Do you hear this Paul of
> Paulagics.
>
> George
> 
>
>


-- 
Frode Jacobsen
Parkview Trail, Windsor Mill, MD 21244