While not in Ontario, the following observation may be of interest to Ontario birders. As per posts from Northern Ontario finches are on the move, the Eardley-Masham road, which transects the western part of the Gatineau park, is a favoured finch watching spot for Ottawa birders and has lately hosted small numbers of Red Crossbills. Today while checking these out another observer pointed out two crossbills to me. I was taken aback when the male landed nearby as it had a small thin bill similar to that of a White-winged Crossbill, as far as I can tell this relates to a "type 3" crossbill; we had two other observations of Red Crossbills, both of which were the large billed type normally seen in the Ottawa area. Interesting, the small billed birds were feeding in cedar and hemlock (with siskins); the larger billed birds were in pine (Red and Scotch). Also present were many small flocks of Pine Siskin and one flock of about a dozen Common Redpolls. The finches are gathering salt on the road so if you do go please drive slowly! Directions from Neilyworld Birding: From Boulevard des Allumettières or Highway 148, take the Chemin Eardley exit in Aylmer. Turn right or northwest onto Chemin Eardley or the continuation of Highway 148 and proceed 25.5 km northwest on Eardley to Chemin Eardley-Masham (a.k.a. Ramsay Lake Road). Turn right or north onto it. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
