(probable) White-winged Crossbills, Kent Co., 18 Oct

[Caleb Putnam]

Chatters-

Sorry for the hesitant nature of this report, but this morning at Howard Christensen Nature Center in northwestern Kent County I had a small group (3-5 ind.) of probable White-winged Crossbills--all fem/imm.-- feeding atop a White Pine, then flying briefly overhead.  I am not willing to say with 100% certainty that's what these birds were, because the look was distant and backlit, with only 8X binoculars, and when they flew overhead I couldn't get a visual through the canopy and there was a loud group of people talking over them, but I strongly suspect that's what they were, based on a combination of behavior, jizz/shape, and call notes given in flight.  Based on vocalization they were certainly not Red Crossbills.

The nature center is located just south of the intersection of 20 Mile Rd and Red Pine Dr NW.  From 20 Mile head east on the entrance drive (~0.5 miles south of 20 Mile), park and head east on the trail which is a continuation of the entrance drive.  Walk about 1/2 mile until you reach Chrishaven Lake (a small lake perhaps 100m in width) on your left.  The crossbills were atop a large White Pine with lots of open cones at the west side of the lake.  They were last seen flying northeast over the north dock on Chrishaven Lake, and may not be in the area any longer.

In any event, it will be interesting to see the extent to which this species irrupts into the southern lower peninsula over the next few months, given the good influx to our north.

Good Birding,
Caleb Putnam

Caleb G Putnam
Sparta, MI
larus10 at hotmail.com

_________________________________________________________________
When your life is on the go—take your life with you.
http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/115298558/direct/01/