Hello Tweeters,
As Marv Breece wrote,I made the trip with Sam Agnew on Tuesday.We left
Tacoma at 6.00AM sharp and got to Stevens Pass AT 9.00 AM.As I got to the
parking lot I saw one birder Marv Breece.Talking to him that he already had
the Crossbills and taken some photos,I knew that we came to late.I was well
prepared thanks to several birders telling me that there are no problem if
you had good shoes with good trucks and some poles.As I still was talking to
Mark,Sam went on but returned,he had the wrong shoes and only a wooden
stick.So he decided to staying in the parking lot looking for birds
there.Marv was ready to leave but decided to going up again.I had no
trouble going on this trail since my shoes where from REI and made for snow
and ice,this are the boots I take in winter going on to the East -side there
call North Face.As we was climbing further up,we saw and heard a lot of
Siskin,some Red Crossbills and three groups of White-winged Crossbills,at on
instance there was flying over our heads and calling loudly.But to my
despair non of the White-winged got close for photos.I remember in
September 23-2001 Patrick and I camped at Hart's Pass on Slate Peak,as we
got early up in the morning a huge tree was covert with all White -winged
Crossbills and there was feeding on the large cones and staying quit long
time, the same happen in Okanogan Havilla in the late nineties where there
was an invasion of this species,this birds was even on the ground and the
trees where full of birds.I think this is maybe the end since there being
sighted few weeks ago.Anyway,we went down to the parking lot and I felt kind
of guilty leaving Sam alone in the parking lot.Marv went on,and I like to
mention that Marv got excellent hearing,he heard some of this birds what was
so far away,also I had my ears covert,so some of the birds I never heard
good.After lunch I went again in hope to seeing this birds closer,since it
was later in the day,the sun was out bright and the scenery is breath taking
there I spotted a larger group of White-winged Crossbill's coming from the
top flying down, I heard them calling,and seeing the White wings on some of
the birds.I did not had time to going to the lake,since I had Sam to be
consider.So this birds where my third sighting in Washington and one
sighting of 20 birds in Montana.The Pin Grosbeaks I had in Whinthrop where I
had close photos.But it would be nice if I would have hiked to the lake to
get the Pine Grosbeaks and the Redpolls and view the whole mountain range
from above.I consider to taken another trip to this fantastic area

Cheers Ruth Sullivan