Hi Everyone,

Brad Lanning asked me to post this report from Washington Co.

"Hi Guys,

I am pleased to report that we found a very loose flock of 19 White-Winged Crossbills yesterday about 5 p.m. in the same neighborhood as previously mentioned.  The flock held mostly males.  The few females that were there seemed to be pairing up and the flock worked several of the spruce trees at the same time and at various distances.  All of our previous sightings have held pretty tight flocks, usually working one or two trees close together.  The location is at Hillandale Rd., between Fountainhead Rd. and Briarcliff Dr.  They were all found eating on the spruce cones, hanging up-side down like Parrots.  They were also very vocal and flying around to different spruce trees there.  On the way back to the house, we were just about to turn onto Chewsville Rd. from Whitehall Rd. when all of the sudden I spotted a Northern Harrier and a Peregrine Falcon flying together loosely to the North.  Nice long looks were had by all, a real treat!  

The previous day I was birding with my other Grandfather and we were treated to a flock of at least 65 Bonaparte's Gulls at Sandy Hook, directly below the bridge.  They seemed to be feeding on Caddis Flies and bait fish near the surface.  We also had Yellow-Throated Warbler at the mouth of the Antietam along the tow-path.  Yesterday at Big Pool, we photographed a beautiful breeding plumaged Bufflehead at the Beaver Pond below.  There were Gadwall there as well.  At Williamsport, we had Coot, Widgeon, Ring-necked Duck and Blairs Valley had a Northern Harrier also.  Later from Washington County!

Forgot to mention a Barred Owl at the Beaver Creek Wetlands and a Green-Winged Teal on the very high Potomac at Big Pool and a Green Heron at Blairs Valley.  

Brad"

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com