Hello Ontbirds people, Just wanted to give a "heads up" re: recent sightings of Red Crossbills in Ottawa. Within the past week, there have been 3 separate sightings reported from various locations:
25 October - "a flock" (no # given) flying over Rockcliffe Park - Gerard Phillips 30 October - approx. 20 at the Britannia Conservaton Area - Dave Moore & several other observers 01 November - approx. 15 at the Jack Pine Trail in the Stoney Swamp - Scott Gilmour These are the 1st reports of this species in our area this year. So...keep your eyes to the skies and ears open for their distinctive call notes. At least 2 of the subspecies of Loxia curvirostra occur in the Ottawa area, L.c. minor being by far the most frequent (when they do occur here), the other most likely representing the more western subspecies L. c. sitkensis. The former's call notes are a series of dry "kips", the latter's call sounds more like "jeet". The very small-billed sitkensis prefers Hemlock, whereas minor prefers White Pine but may also feed on White Spruce cones which are abundantly available this year! Please see Ron Pittaway's Famous "Winter Finch Forecast" on the OFO web site www.ofo.ca for more details about this species and others that may visit us, not only in Ottawa, but elswhere in the province, this year! Good Birding, Chris Lewis & Bob Bracken Ottawa [EMAIL PROTECTED]
