On Fri, 16 May 1997, Rick Romea wrote:

>
> I walked around in Discovery Park this morning (Friday 7-10 AM).
> Saw 6 Red Crossbills (male and female mixed flock) eating pine cones
> on a tree just above the 'staircase' near the South parking lot. Also
> saw and heard Wilson's, Yellow, Orange-crowned and Townsand's Warblers
> in the same area. I also think I heard a Pacific-slope Flycatcher,
> but I couldn't find it. Lots of Cowbirds around, and I've been fooled
> before. There was some activity (movement) in the Bald Eagle nest,
> with both adults perched nearby. Anyone know what's going on there?

Rick,

I've been hearing Crossbills daily for the last month or so in Discovery
Park, and haven't yet encountered them at eye level. Lucky you. There
are indeed buckets of P.S. Flycatchers around now, as well as Cowbirds.

This is my third year spending considerable time in Discovery Park, and
the quantity of crossbills this spring is completely unprecedented.

Also saw a fledgling Junco being fed today - I didn't realize they stuck
around to breed.

Chris Hill
Everett, WA
cehill at u.washington.edu