[Birdnet] White-winged Crossbills, woodpeckers, etc

[tanager at timaverybirding.com]

This morning (07/06), Steve & Cindy Sommerfeld and I hiked the loop from Brighton by Silver Lake, up to Twin Lakes, down to Lake Solitude and back to Brighton.  Couldn't have asked for nicer weather--and better birds!

Near Twin Lakes we had a female WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, and a male AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.  Just over the divide that drops from the ridge, down to Lake Solitude 2 ATTW could be heard drumming, one likely the same bird that we saw. 
About 150 yards down the trail from the top I heard what sounded like WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS giving flight calls.  After a little work 2 flew over giving the the distinct chatter.  A lone bird was visible on top of a spruce several hundred feet away.

We went another 100 yards down the trail and a PINE GROSBEAK started calling right off the trail. As we were watching this bird another one could be heard singing in the next tree over.  At about the same time I swore I heard a WWCR singing in the same tree.  Then the chattering began and it was apparent there were several WWCR in the tree!!!

We saw several males who fed, sang and called witin 25 feet of us for some time.  A couple of female birds were also present.  I guessed there were 5 or 6 present with all the singing chattering and flight calls as the birds moved around.  2 or 3 RED CROSSBILL came in with all the racket and several more were heard later along the trail back to Silver Lake.

Several OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER were heard singing along the way and a handful of CLARK'S NUTCRACKER were seen and heard as well.  All the other usual suspects were heard or seen.  No Golden-crowned Kinglet or Brown Creeper were heard or seen. 

It was a great morning of birding in the mountains and very void of people till we were within a mile of Brighton on the walk back from Lake Solitude. 

I'll be posting a complete list of species as well as pictures to birdtalk later today.

Good Birding! 

Tim 

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