I hit the finch jackpot while participating in the Cortland Christmas Bird Count yesterday (19 Dec 2020). While covering different sections of Bear Swamp State Forest, I came across flocks of both RED CROSSBILLS and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS. I also had individual COMMON REDPOLL flyovers, as well as one PURPLE FINCH and one AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, making for a five-finch morning!
The first Red Crossbills were along the southern section of Bear Swamp Road, a bit north of the "Iowa Road parking lot" marked on Google Maps. Additional details can be found here: https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S77689752 I then walked along Curtin Road a bit further north, focusing on the 1/4-mile stretch that contains conifers on both sides of the road. While there, I heard the flight calls of a flock of Red Crossbills, which eventually flew south across the road. https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S77691187 Finally, just as I was about to wrap up for the morning, I heard and then saw a flock of 30 White-winged Crossbills near the west end of Hartnett Road: https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S77695926 A few of the White-winged Crossbills offered nice views while perched, but otherwise, all of my finch encounters were of birds in flight, so if you go, keep an ear out for flight calls! Good birding, Matt Medler Ithaca -- 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/ --
