[Birdnet] Cache Co. WW Crossbills, Three-toed Woodpecker, Purple Martin

[Craig Fosdick]

Today I hiked the Tony Grove-Coldwater Spring-Cottonwood Canyon trail (not
the whole way!) and found eight WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, and two THREE-TOED
WOODPECKERS.  The WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were present at the Tony Grove
backcountry trailhead parking lot and, and also in the next 400 m upslope
along the trail to Coldwater Spring and Cottonwood Canyon.  At least one
singing male was present in the conifers on the south side of the parking
lot; 200-m upslope I relocated what I presumed was the same bird
countersinging to another singing WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, along with at
least two other WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS.  Later in the day, while descending
the trail, I found eight WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS at a point >400-m from the
first two observations.

These WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were first detected several weeks ago in the
Tony Grove CG by Ron Ryel.

Seven PURPLE MARTINS were flying around at Tony Grove backcountry trailhead
and over the adjacent meadow. There were at least two adult males.

Just above Coldwater Spring, where the trail enters the large meadow, I
looked up and saw three AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (very high up) headed west
over the ridge, apparently returning from a Bear Lake grocery run?

At 8,900' on the ridgeline, and about 200-m down the Cottonwood Cnyn from
where it splits from the trail to Smithfield Cnyn I found two THREE-TOED
WOODPECKERS foraging on a large dead Limber Pine.

There were also many other birds around, particularly adult and juvenile
Chipping Sparrows (65+; including a flock of 40 juveniles in the meadows
where the trail to Cottonwood Cnyn splits from the trail to Smithfield
Cnyn), Dark-eyed Juncos (35), and Red Crossbills (30+).  There were also at
least 15 hummingbirds around, with Rufous, Calliope and Broad-tailed all
represented.

Good birding, Craig.

Craig Fosdick
Logan, Utah
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