Today, December 23, 2024, I found a flock of 32 Evening Grosbeaks in Tupper Lake near the intersection of Webb Rd. and Pine St. White Ash trees have abundant seeds this year and the flock was feeding in a large Ash. They flew off toward Washington St., which also has lots of White Ash trees. Almost all the birds were females, and I only spotted 3 males in the flock.
I have found White-winged Crossbills in many locations along Route 30 in Long Lake - particularly large flocks near the John Dillon Park area with ~40 observed south of the park and ~25 north of the park. The flock to the south was feeding on Black Spruce cone seeds. I made note of this spot to Tyler Hoar in September when I sent tree seed crop info - it was the only place I found Black Spruces with cones - and in that particular group of trees, the crop was bumper! A strange anomaly! White-winged Crossbills are all along Sabattis Rd. beginning just south of the inlet of Little Tupper Lake and ranging north to Rt. 30. I've been observing bill-touching behavior in pairs. Red Crossbills appear to be widespread and I'm finding them everywhere I look. Large flocks were found along North Point Road in Long Lake from the intersection with Forked Lake Rd. to the outlet of Raquette Lake. Many were singing and gritting in the road. I found a flock today (25-30) along Route 421 to Horseshoe Lake (St Lawrence Co.), also with lots of singing. The flock was just before the steep hill down to the lake. They were all intent on dead snags, focusing on the softest part of the dead trees. I took photos and videos showing they were sticking their tongues into the soft wood sections. I frequently see this behavior in Red Crossbills and always wonder what they are doing. There was a lot of fighting among flock members for these decayed spots. Red Crossbills are all along Sabattis Road where they have also been feeding in Red Spruces with White-winged Crossbills and gritting with them. I have also found Red Crossbills in several areas of Newcomb including Tahawus Rd. and Route 28N. I observed mate-feeding at Sabattis Bog in Long Lake on Dec. 15, 2024. Pine Siskins are here this winter and we've had a few at our feeders. Several times, I have observed huge flocks, where they appear as a small dark cloud! Recently, a huge flock was gritting in Sabattis Road and they covered a big section of road from one side to the other! They are numerous along North Point Rd. in Long Lake. Amer. Goldfinches often join them. They are feeding on the abundant Yellow Birch catkins. (Red-breasted Nuthatches have also been feeding on the Yellow Birch catkins and also on Red Spruce cones - alongside both crossbill species!) It is always an exciting winter when crossbills are around! I have an aversion to social media, but I'm making a New Year's resolution to start posting bird photos once again - at least once in a while! I am not a photographer, but I love to photograph crossbills and I posted some photos to my Facebook page below. Happy holidays to everyone! Joan Collins Long Lake, NY https://www.facebook.com/AdirondackAvian/ -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") NYSbirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
