[Birdtalk] crossbill irruption?

[Cliff and Lisa Weisse]

For what it's worth there have been a lot of White-winged Crossbills 
around Island Park for the past month, although I haven't seen them for 
a few days now.  I saw multiple flocks numbering in double digits, far 
more than I've ever seen in the area in previous irruptions.   Listen 
for a "jip" call that doesn't have the ringing quality of Red Crossbill 
(but is very similar) and is delivered at a faster rate.  I also heard a 
slurred call note a couple times that I've never heard Red Crossbill 
make.  The White-wingeds seem to prefer spruce but I've seen them feed 
on Douglas Firs and Subalpine Firs if there are a lot of cones on them.  
Good luck.

Cliff

Matt Mills wrote:
> In response to the earlier e-mail from Lu regarding the crossbill interruption:
>
>  I am originally from Ontario, Canada and follow the bird sightings there very closely. There has been a major movement of White-winged Crossbills throughout the southern part of the province since October. Birders have seen flocks exceeding 60 birds in many cases. It is typical to see very few white-winged crossbills in southern ontario in any given fall/winter season so this has certainly been an exceptional year. Snowy Owls have also been all over the place, with as many as 5 around my home town alone. 
>
> I realize that this is far from Utah, but perhaps we will see the effects of these movements in the coming weeks as these two species both have extensive ranges.
>
> Matt Mills
>
>
> --- On Fri, 12/12/08, Lu Giddings <seldom74 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> From: Lu Giddings <seldom74 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [Birdtalk] crossbill irruption?
>> To: "Bird Talk" <birdtalk at utahbirds.org>
>> Date: Friday, December 12, 2008, 10:40 AM
>> This may be a re-post, and if so I apologize. The following
>> note on a
>> possible winter irruption of white-winged crossbills was
>> posted on Ken
>> Kaufman's blog a few days ago.
>> http://birdingwithkennandkim.blogspot.com/2008/12/happening-right-now-crossbill-invasion.html
>> Lu Giddings
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>
>
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-- 
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa at octobersetters.com

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