I birded the northeast corner of the Edgewood DEC Preserve this morning from 8:30-10:05. I mainly worked along the north-south power line right of way on the eastern edge of the preserve. The highlight of the visit were 5 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS. The first 3 were heard calling and then seen as they flew high overhead, going west. The other two birds were unseen, heard calling from fixed positions. One of those birds was fairly close and vocalized long enough for me to home in on its location. I was closing in on it when I heard its calls began to recede to the northeast.
Edgewood is extensively wooded, primarily a mix of Pitch Pine and oaks. In addition, the power line cut I walked has quite a few larches growing along the fence line of the still active section of the Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center, on which there are several large, cone-studded spruce trees, and stands of Eastern White Pine. Probably enough food in the area to keep some WWCRs happy for a while. I know I'll be going back regularly in hope of another, closer encounter. Link to full eBird list: http://ebird.org/ebird/ny/view/checklist?subID=S12007426 -- 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/[email protected]/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/ --
