Hi folks,
Andrew Spencer and I went to the Grand Mesa yesterday in search of
Jason Beason's White-winged Crossbills. We found them and much more:
Mesa County:
Type 5 Red Crossbill ("Lodgepole Pine Crossbill") - common up on the
Grand Mesa right now
TYPE 4 RED CROSSBILL ("DOUGLAS-FIR CROSSBILL") - one giving its very
distinctive upslurred call note in a flock of Type 5s as we ascended
the Grand Mesa from the north, before we got to the Mesa Lakes
Lodge. This type of Red Crossbill is a rare but regular wanderer
into Colorado from the northwest. Neither Andrew nor I had ever
encountered one in the state before. Audio recordings were obtained.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL - several flocks along the Skyway Trail system
where they had been reported by Jason Beason; birds were mostly along
the Lions Loop Trail but I think they can probably be found on all the trails.
--also seen in this area were Northern Shrike, American Three-toed
Woodpecker, Clark's Nutcracker, Pine Grosbeak, and Art Dahl.
Delta County:
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL - at least 10 in two flocks right near the
Grand Mesa Visitor Center
--also seen along CO 92 and 133 in the greater Hotchkiss/Paonia area:
Mountain Bluebird, Wild Turkey, Lewis's Woodpecker, Bald and Golden Eagles
Gunnison County:
Type 5 Red Crossbill - 2 on the west side of McClure Pass.
Pitkin County:
Lewis's Woodpecker - along CO 133 a little north of Redstone
Many thanks to Walter Szeliga and Chris Nunes for lending their
snowshoes to me and Andrew...you can't go onto the Skyway trails
without them (or cross-country skis). :)
Good birding all,
Nathan Pieplow
Boulder
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