A western Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch gave Nancy Loomis, in Boonville, quite a start as she was counting goldfinch for Project FeederWatch last weekend. Thanks to her, a local TV news crew, news reporters, and birders galore from three states have seen this noteworthy visitor. However, the bird has not been seen in a day, so email Nancy before hand at loomis.na...@yahoo.com. Additionally, check *Birdingonthenet* for sightings.
The Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch could not have picked a nicer house to visit. As soon as she saw the odd bird, Nancy asked the Lab for an ID, issued a Rare Bird Alert, and made sure there was plenty of seed to keep it around—it likes mixed seeds and not Niger seed. The Loomis’ put up a yellow tape to show birders where to stand and have asked that visitors sign their log inside the garage, where they have made a restroom available. The finch itself has been easy to see, frequenting the feeding deck and surrounding trees. We spent our 62º Wednesday afternoon observing the GCRF in Boonville. (I also checked out the gorgeous flock of 30+ Bohemian Waxwings a mile or so down the road by Sugar River.) A beautiful life bird, it appeared more rufous than rosy in Wednesday's variable light. Below are some terrific photos of the GCRF posted on *10,000 Birds *by Corey Finger after his visit to Boonville on Monday. Boonville's a drive, but tomorrow IS Saturday. We took the "scenic way" via Rt. 13 and saw migrant snow geese, the occasional red-tail and Harrier, a few 50 mph spp., and a few signs of spring along the way. Many thanks to the Loomis family for their gracious hospitality! Candace Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch *Boonville, 2012* *10,000 Birds *by Corey Finger <http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Gray-crowned-Rosy-Finch-2.jpg> <http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Gray-crowned-Rosy-Finch-3.jpg> <http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Gray-crowned-Rosy-Finch.jpg> <http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Gray-crowned-Rosy-Finch-4.jpg> <http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Gray-crowned-Rosy-Finch-5.jpg> <http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Gray-crowned-Rosy-Finch-7.jpg> <http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Gray-crowned-Rosy-Finch-8.jpg> <http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Gray-crowned-Rosy-Finch-9.jpg> <http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Gray-crowned-Rosy-Finch-6.jpg> * * <http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Gray-crowned-Rosy-Finch-10.jpg> -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
