[nysbirds-l] Red Crossbill Flight
There was a very nice flight this morning of Red Crossbills at Jones Beach (and I would expect other coastal locations). From 8:00 to 1:00, around 330 were tallied by me and many helpers. Also, about 1640 American Goldfinches. A few Pine Siskins were still moving, but numbers are way past peak now. To be clear, this was a migration event. As word got around of the numbers being seen, people were showing up expecting to see crossbills all over the place. That's not how it works, at least for now. These are migrating flocks (of up to 30 birds). Some pass straight through, while some do stop off for up to a few minutes. Unfortunately for hopeful photographers, most of the stopping was being done in the highest pines at the West End turnaround. But there can be some good photo ops for the patient. I put up one picture on e-bird https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S76508296 . How many times today did I mention November 25, 2012? That was the day we were allowed back onto Jones Beach, after Sandy caused a closure while the last big irruption was taking place. Those that were there that day were indeed treated to crossbill flocks (White-winged, too) all over the place, and in smaller trees. We can only hope that it happens again. Next northwest wind forecast (in the morning, when it matters) is for November 24 (Tuesday). Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] Red Crossbill Flight
I'm not sure if I should put it this way in regard to this species, but only about 60 Red Crossbills were tallied at Jones Beach this morning. Obviously a good number by most measures, but quite a comedown after Saturday's flight. Most moved on quickly. But one lone male stayed for maybe 15 minutes, finally hooking up with a flock of 5. In the meantime, a couple of people got recordings. So we might be able to deduce the type. I'm glad that getting the word out has provided an opportunity for many people to enjoy the crossbill action. Unfortunately, I didn't consider that it might attract people coming with existing recordings - and selfishly playing them and annoying birds and people. None of those present appreciated trying to track down a calling bird that wasn't there. As I mentioned, the crossbills are quickly moving on. To my eyes, the cone crop on the Japanese Black Pines seems less than what I've seen in other years. Photos of crossbills are showing that they have been getting something out of the cones, but I'm afraid there just might not be enough to allow a repeat of the winter 2012-2013 show at Jones. A single Evening Grosbeak was heard and seen by some for a short time. American Goldfinches were way down, too, with only about 600. Pine Siskin is still in the mix, but not many. Steve Walter From: Steve Walter [mailto:swalte...@verizon.net] Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2020 4:12 PM To: NYSBIRDS (nysbird...@list.cornell.edu) Subject: Red Crossbill Flight There was a very nice flight this morning of Red Crossbills at Jones Beach (and I would expect other coastal locations). From 8:00 to 1:00, around 330 were tallied by me and many helpers. Also, about 1640 American Goldfinches. A few Pine Siskins were still moving, but numbers are way past peak now. To be clear, this was a migration event. As word got around of the numbers being seen, people were showing up expecting to see crossbills all over the place. That's not how it works, at least for now. These are migrating flocks (of up to 30 birds). Some pass straight through, while some do stop off for up to a few minutes. Unfortunately for hopeful photographers, most of the stopping was being done in the highest pines at the West End turnaround. But there can be some good photo ops for the patient. I put up one picture on e-bird https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S76508296 . How many times today did I mention November 25, 2012? That was the day we were allowed back onto Jones Beach, after Sandy caused a closure while the last big irruption was taking place. Those that were there that day were indeed treated to crossbill flocks (White-winged, too) all over the place, and in smaller trees. We can only hope that it happens again. Next northwest wind forecast (in the morning, when it matters) is for November 24 (Tuesday). Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE:[nysbirds-l] Red Crossbill Flight (11/27)
Today's movement involved "only" about 50 Red Crossbills. It could be that the flight is dwindling, but the morning's wind was light and never veered toward the forecast of northwest. Only 5 flocks comprised today's flight (two of them not stopping). All were between 8:30 and 10:00. With an overall reduced Passerine flight, that's about normal for the die off time. Thanks Lisa for getting the recording the other day, and thanks Matt for the quick response to let us know that it's Type 10 we're getting. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the online searches I've done indicate that November 2012 brought mainly Type 3. Another note of interest for followers of bird wanderings. A couple of Tufted Titmouse appeared at the Jones Beach West End turnaround area, where it's rare though not unprecedented. They join one or two Hairy Woodpeckers and the many Black-capped Chickadees in forsaking their forest homes for a beach vacation. Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: RE:[nysbirds-l] Red Crossbill Flight (11/28)
51 today. Am I getting too obsessed with this? Not really. It's a chance to study in migration a species I don't get to see often. And from a photography aspect, different plumages and different poses to get them in. One flock of 6 did land in smaller trees by the turnaround today, and at a convenient time when the sun was out (which was not much of the time for the first few hours of the day). People got some good pictures. To add a story to it, I mentioned how the flight usually wraps up around 10:00, and it was now 10:00. Just as I said that, they got up and left. But it doesn't always mean the end. Sometimes patience pays. One more flock of about 12 passed through, without stopping, before the migration watch was wrapped up at 11:00. But I actually did see another flock toward the bay side later on. That group landed. 6 again. A bit of irony. Steve Walter From: Steve Walter [mailto:swalte...@verizon.net] Sent: Friday, November 27, 2020 2:33 PM To: NYSBIRDS (nysbird...@list.cornell.edu) Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Red Crossbill Flight (11/27) Today's movement involved "only" about 50 Red Crossbills. It could be that the flight is dwindling, but the morning's wind was light and never veered toward the forecast of northwest. Only 5 flocks comprised today's flight (two of them not stopping). All were between 8:30 and 10:00. With an overall reduced Passerine flight, that's about normal for the die off time. Thanks Lisa for getting the recording the other day, and thanks Matt for the quick response to let us know that it's Type 10 we're getting. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the online searches I've done indicate that November 2012 brought mainly Type 3. Another note of interest for followers of bird wanderings. A couple of Tufted Titmouse appeared at the Jones Beach West End turnaround area, where it's rare though not unprecedented. They join one or two Hairy Woodpeckers and the many Black-capped Chickadees in forsaking their forest homes for a beach vacation. Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
