Saw some "unusual" behavior at Newhalem today. A
flock of 30+ Red Crossbills (no wingbars) and 6 Pine
Sisken working on the road in Newhalem. Specific area
was 10ish yards east of the first high tension line at
the road, coming from the east. Two bodies of
roadkill birds mark the site. The birds appeared to
be trying to dig gravel bits out of the road at the
site of a apparent road repair. The birds were
persistent at the site. I was able to observe the
birds move on and off the site a number of times and I
finally resited my car as a blind within 5 yards of
the site and watch the birds for over half an hour.
They would move within 5 feet. They had small grit
and gravel available on the side of the road and in
the plowed snow but were much more focused on the road
surface. Crossbills attacked road from a tilted head
(30 degrees or less to plane of road) made me think
they may be after salt or other road compounds. What
fun!

The barn owl web camera at the washington department
of fish and wildlife are showing mom with new eggs!


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