[CT Birds] 12/07 - Hammo crossbill info

[Nick Bonomo]

>From Nick Bonomo:
12/07 - Madison, Hammonasset Beach SP -- 42 RED CROSSBILLS, 4 Purple
Sandpipers, 3 Bonaparte's Gulls.

The high count of Red Crossbills reached 42 birds sometime around 1pm,
at the same location as Roy posted earlier. For the most part they
were split into smaller flocks, but for one brief moment they all
converged. Here, the birds were feeding on both cones and
cedar/juniper(?) berries. One bird actually sang for a couple of
minutes! Later in the afternoon there were 7-15 birds in the West
Beach pines (where Patrick had them earlier in the day).

These birds are very tame, so when looking for them, don't be afraid
to slowly walk right under the pines in which they may be feeding. If
they are not vocalizing, just listen for the cracking of cones. A
flock of crossbills can be quite loud while they're chowing down.

Nick Bonomo
Orange, CT