Hi Everyone,

John Hubbell and I headed west on Sunday (2/1) in hopes of spending some quality time with White-winged Crossbills. We began the day at dawn at Rocky Gap SP, where we joined Jim Stasz at the marshy stretch near the campground gate. There was a good siskin flight right away, and it didn't take too long before we had our first of at least two WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLs. We had great looks at a female, saw another in the distance, and heard them quite a bit as they moved around the area. After all of the miserably cold mornings we've spent looking for finches in western Maryland, the balmy 45 degree morning was wonderful.

In the afternoon, inspired by Hans Holbrook's recent luck, John and I explored promising areas around Hagerstown, including a spruce-friendly area called Fountain Head. We were pleasantly surprised to quickly luck into a flock of at least five birds feeding on a Norway Spruce near the intersection of Rolling Road and Apple Hill Drive. 

I finally managed to get some photos of the beautiful creatures on Saturday:

http://www.billhubick.com/new_set.html

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com