[Birdtalk] White-winged Crossbills in American Fork Canyon, Ut Co. 2/22/09

[Eric Huish]

I drove up American Fork Canyon in Utah County this morning to look for crossbills. AF Canyon - http://www.utahbirds.org/counties/utahco/AmericanForkCanyon.htm .  I first stopped at the Swinging Bridge Picnic Area. Here I found a pair of Dippers singing near the bridge and heard a Townsend's Solitaire up on the hillside. Next I stopped at the Timpanogos Cave parking area where I heard another Solitaire and some nice folks pointed out a group of Mountain Goats clinging to the cliffs north of the parking area. 

 

My final stop was at the gate into Mutual Dell Lodge. (Turn right, to Alpine Loop, at the fork as you go up the canyon. Mutual Dell in on the right side of the road.) I just waited here for my crossbills to show up. After a half hour of waiting (~10:45 a.m.) a flock of about 20 White-winged Crossbills flew into a tree close enough for me to get great views in great lighting. While waiting for the crossbills I enjoyed watching several Clark's Nutcrackers, a Steller's Jay, Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, a few Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Townsend's Solitaire and an American Robin. The road up the canyon was clear and dry. 

Thanks everyone for your White-winged Crossbill posts. It sounds like they are everywhere.

Eric Huish 
Pleasant Grove UT 
poorwill_ at hotmail.com 
801-360-8777 
 
 
 
 


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