This morning after checking the bash (a lot of waterfowl), I headed to Neversink to see how the winter finches were faring. I was not disappointed. I ran into several flocks of PINE SISKINS. I also spotted a few PURPLE FINCHES on Hunter Road. When I reached Cooley Bog, as I stepped out of the car I heard Click-click calls all around me. I immediately found (8) WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in the tops of the trees in the same spot where they had bred in 2008. More calls could be heard all around and it was clear there were many many birds in the area. I had a total of 50-60 Pine Siskins there and at least (18) White-winged Crossbills. A Red-breasted Nuthatch and half a dozen Chickadees completed the count. I was able to view the birds and take some terrible pics over the next half hour. The birds then all moved into the vast stand of spruce, out of sight and eventually out of hearing range. I left and headed into Liberty and on Aden Hill Road found an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK. For anyone interested in coming for the birds, I would expect morning is best and a wait is to be expected as these birds are clearly moving around a lot. Also of note, an adult NORTHER SHRIKE continues on Zylstra Road in Fosterdale. Good luck if you come. John Haas --
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/ --
