A flock of 12+ White-winged Crossbills were feeding on the N. side of Riverview Cemetery in Algona (straight north from the main gate). I also visited Smith Lake where 7 species of Waterfowl were present including a female Ruddy Duck, Gadwalls, Ring-necked Ducks, N. Pintails, a Redhead and the customary Canadas and Mallards. At Water's Edge Nature Center, I found three Red-breasted Nuthatches in the west fringing grove of conifers. Also coming into Algona from the west I saw a pair of Trumpeter Swans flying circles over a farm pond.
I never realized how aggressive WWCR were when it came to foraging. I thought Waxwings came in like locusts but these WWCR were creating a downpour of rejected cones. Most of the birds looked like imm. males with some females (no adult males were noted) which fits the irruption demographic profile. A N. Cardinal was trying to bully the crossbills but the crossbills were quite resolute and ignored the Cardinal despite at times clearly invading 'personal space'. Jacob Newton Ottosen, Humboldt Co., IA --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/PayDues.aspx. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
