While walking the dog Sunday morning (Feb 8, 2009) I stopped to see if I could find the small wintering flock of Chipping Sparrows I have been seeing sporatically on Mallard Lane.  While scanning a loose flock of birds in a small clump of deciduous trees, I found 2 male and 3 female White-winged Crossbills feeding on the buds of Sweetgum!  This is the first report I've heard of them eating anything besides spruce or hemlock -- could feeders be next?

Danny Bystrak
Bristol, AA Co. MD