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Posted for Brad Lanning: 58 WW Crossbills and 123 DC Cormorants

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Bill Hubick

Date:

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:09:17 -0700

Hi Everyone,

The following is posted on behalf of Brad Lanning. Thanks. - Bill

Hi guys, just wanted to let you all know that my Grandfather and I found 58 White-winged Crossbills at the Fountainhead Golf Course yesterday.  They were feeding on the small Hemlock cones in the very mature Hemlock grove at the end of Preston Rd.  The trees are located between the road and the golf course.  After several counts we were able to determine that we had 55 birds on the ground in front of us feeding on the fallen cones and at least 3 more birds in the tree feeding.  This count is very conservative.  It is certainly possible there were more birds in the back of the trees feeding as well.  We got some incredible video footage.  One of the females actually fed on a hemlock cone directly under my tri-pod.  Also, lots of bright males in the flock.  I have never seen this many or been so close in my life. Amazing!
   
Down at Williamsport, there were 118 D.C. Cormorants, 3 at Ft. Ritchie, and 2 at Warner Hollow Res. off of rt.491 making a total for the day at 123.  Also of note were Common Loon at Williamsport and Greenbrier.  Nothern Harrier and 11 Ring-billed Gulls on Pondsville rd., just up the road from the mother Owl (thanks Bill).  We have been seeing Snipe at the Beaver Creek wetlands lately.  I got some pictures of a very interesting Snipe with the 2 other Wilson's.

Brad Lanning and Byron Steele
Washington County
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