Apologies for a tardy posting, but I was surprised on Saturday morning 
to find a flock of at least 7 Red Crossbills in and around the 
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP parking lot on Prosper Road.  As I pulled 
in at 6:45 am, I noticed a group of birds on the gravel. Crossbills 
never entered my mind, and I initially thought they were cowbirds.  They 
scattered, but 7 birds quickly alighted again, at which point I looked 
at them closely.  An adult male, adult female and 5 juveniles were 
taking grit from the gravel surface.  They again flew up into the red 
pines around the lot, and were calling. I think there may have been 
other individuals present, but I can only be positive of the 7.

After the Bioblitz bird walk from 7-9, several of us returned and looked 
thoroughly around the area, fanning out on the trails from the parking 
lot, but the birds were nowhere to be found.  This is the same area 
where at least a couple of Red Crossbill pairs nested two winters ago, 
though I understand they haven't been seen or heard here so far in 
2014.  It wouldn't be surprising if the group lingers, so additional 
searching is warranted.  The species tends to be quite vocal, so 
listening for calls may be a good way to find them.

Chris

-- 
Chris Rimmer
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
P.O. Box 420
Norwich, VT 05055
802-649-1431 ext. 1
www.vtecostudies.org

****************************************************************
To post messages, send e-mail to:  [log in to unmask]
Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages.
To contact the list owner:  [log in to unmask]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Web based archives and subscription management are available at:
http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html
****************************************************************