Usually, I do not post about my yard birds, but this one is worth it! Just minutes ago, thinking I had heard a Common Redpoll in the backyard, I ventured outside with camera in hand. No Redpoll, but while looking over the birds at my feeders that included Siskins *(finally) *and Purple Finches.
I heard then saw a flock of about 9 birds alighting on the Pines on the backyard. Putting my bins up, I was surprised and ABSOLUTELY delighted to see *WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS* feeding on the cones. I snapped off a few shots and thought about fetching the scope for a video shoot, but they took off shortly heading in a south westerly direction. Earlier, I had reports from both Doug Futumya who had WW Crossbills in Setauket Northshore LI and Tom Burke who had them as well in Rye. So they are coming through, keep an ear and eye out for them!! For those interested, I'll have photos of the White-winged Crossbills as well as the other winter finches on my blog later today. Good Birding in Queens!!! Andrew Baksh Queens, NY www.birdingdude.blogspot.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
