David, John, Glenn, and All,
This is a nice thread about a subject I don't recall ever coming up on COBIRDS.
I was with Janeal and Jane today at Denver West trying for the Pine Warbler
(which we did NOT find, despite finding the bushtits, the juncos, the
nuthatches, the chickadees, and many other birds). What a neat place. One of
the major attractions for birds in the Scots Pines, which are the predominate
species of pine that I saw, is Pine Tortoise Scale. Some of the pines are
heavily infested (the scales are reddish purple lumps on the small twigs within
4-5 inches of the branch ends). This is a chronic pest of pines that I suspect
has been part of the attraction for winter warblers and other small gleaners to
that business park's landscaping for decades. Whomever has the contract to
care for the grounds is getting some free assistance from several species of
birds including the ones mentioned above, plus Cedar Waxwings.
But back to the subject, we also found a small flock of Red Crossbills. This
appeared to be a mixed flock that I think included a 2, mostly 5s, and I am
pretty sure a few 4s. Janeal got a pic of a big-billed male (probably a 5)
with thin, white wingbars.
David mentions the relative prominence of the wing-bars as being a helpful
separation between aberrant Red and White-winged. I am pretty sure the shade
of red should be helpful, also, with Reds being darker and more brick hues,
with the White-winged being distinctly pink.
And I must concur with Brandon and Duane who have indicated recently they sure
hope people are not forgetting about posting to COBIRDS because of eBird. Both
have their strengths, with discussions like the White-winged Red Crossbills
being one of the advantages of a discussion, sharing group like COBIRDS.
One more thing:
Ragarding my post about bad behavior at the Larimer Woodcock situation, the
feedback I got was all positive. Based on the number of questionable birder
behaviors being quite low, I was maybe a bit over the top, who knows? But
there are right ways to do our passion and wrong ways. If whatever we choose
to do passes the "did it hurt the bird, the habitat, the neighbors, or other
birders?" test, it's probably OK. That's all I meant to say. Fawn Simonds the
finder of the bird did everything right and nothing wrong. Austin Hess, one of
Fawn's friends whom she called to tell of her super-exciting find, did nothing
wrong by posting this bird to COBIRDS. 99% of the people who have gone to see
this bird have done our sport proud. The bird seems oblivious or at least OK
with all the attention it is getting. It has its limits and flushes when
pushed, like any living creature would. But it keeps coming back, apparently
because of something (annelid worms, most likely) it is getting from under
heavy leaf litter at the interface between the spring-fed stream and nearby
frozen soil. I have asked the local Ranger Carl (who has been very
accommodating and helpful to all birders) for permission to sample this
soil/leaf litter after the bird leaves, to see if we can figure out what it has
been probing for with that awesome bill. What a creature, perfectly adapted to
its microhabitat.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 20:52:21 -0700
Subject: Re: [cobirds] White-winged Red Crossbill , Park County
From: dsuddj...@gmail.com
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
I also had a male Red Crossbill (Type 2) showing narrow white wingbars along
Meadow Road in Park earlier this month. That is between Pine Junction and
Bailey. It was the only such that I recall seeing. On that Red individual the
wingbars were less bold than on the White-winged, in my limited experience with
the latter.
David SuddjianLittleton, CO
On Mon, Jan 19, 2015 at 8:31 PM, Glenn and Laurie <jun...@comcast.net> wrote:
I photographed a white-winged, Red Crossbill last year in Clear Creek
County. Thanks John for reminding us that some 1st year Red Crossbills can
indeed have white wing-bars.
Glenn Walbek
Castle Rock, CO
From: 'John D' via Colorado Birds
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2015 7:12 PM
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] White-winged Red Crossbill , Park
County
CO Birders
:
A cautionary tale .
A group of us searching
this afternoon for the White-winged Crossbills reported by David Sudjian in
Park
County along CR 98 recently found a type 4 male Red Crossbill with two narrow
white wing bars along CR 403 . Disappointment at first but just
second time that I have seen this variant .
John Drummond
Colorado
Springs .
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