Hello all, Here are a few more details on our encounters with apparent Cassia Crossbills in Summit County today. The first encounter was a quick flyover by a few birds right near the junction between Summit County Road 1851 and 1850 (i.e. the left turn signed to Rock Creek Trailhead). The exact spot was: https://goo.gl/maps/24CazNVzuQG5bAxw7, but it's probably best to park in the large pullout at the road junction just a little farther west.
Here's a link to the checklist with my recording of those birds: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115576195 We stopped a few other places along Rock Creek Road but did not have any more Cassia Crossbills until we reached the spot where Eric DeFonso reported them. To reach this spot, take the left turn onto Rock Creek Road (CR 1350), go all the way to the trailhead at the end, and then hike about half a mile up the trail to the first trail junction (link to map: https://goo.gl/maps/AjiqSdNPq3mRkMM16). Just as Eric reported, several crossbill family groups were foraging in this area, sometimes quietly, sometimes noisily coming and going. The majority were Type 2, with a few apparent Cassia Crossbills mixed in. I made several recordings of the crossbills at this second location, which can be accessed here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115576353 Be aware that the family groups of crossbills included many begging juveniles, singing adult males, and chitter calls from feeding flocks, in addition to flight calls and excitement calls, so the sounds coming from these birds are numerous and varied. Most of the crossbills in the area are Type 2, with apparent Cassias making up perhaps 20% or so. One group of Type 5s flew over us along the road. Best of luck to anyone who chooses to chase these birds -- and remember to make audio recordings! Nathan Pieplow Boulder On Fri, Jul 22, 2022 at 11:35 AM William Churchill Anderson < [email protected]> wrote: > Hi all, > > Nathan Pieplow, Luke Pheneger, and myself are up on Rock Creek Road in > Summit County right now, and just recorded the continuing CASSIA > CROSSBILLS. found here: (39.7213149, -106.1466327) > > Good luck to those who chase, > > Will Anderson > Boulder > > -- > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Colorado Birds" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en > * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include > bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate > * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Colorado Birds" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CADmRPBA1y%2BADO%3DTR92QXg1Kr58-CahPBJwNkm7t%2Bon9BNEHaUg%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CADmRPBA1y%2BADO%3DTR92QXg1Kr58-CahPBJwNkm7t%2Bon9BNEHaUg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAFhaDVKTj29MkvwqoWLkgiaQ8KT3CDpJ7mgotNogP8uZ8U830w%40mail.gmail.com.
