Subject: [Tweeters] Seattle crossbills continue
Date: May 28 14:46:44 2009
From: Kevin Purcell - kevinpurcell at pobox.com


Once again that chunk of 20th Ave E seems really birdy especially in
the morning (catching the early sun, perhaps?) with quite a few
really big trees to perch in.

The Red Crossbills are plentiful again today over a lot of Eastern
Capitol Hill and Volunteer Park.

I saw some interesting crossbill behavior today and yesterday on the
brick Congregational church at 20th Ave E and E Prospect. The
crossbills were clinging onto the brick frieze at the top of the
building like house sparrows apparently eating something on the brick
(insects? invertebrates?). Something I would have thought to be
difficult with that beak (perhaps they use the tongue as they do with
the seeds?). I guess they're more flexible than I thought they were.
I supposed they have to be to eat when the conifer seeds aren't around.

I saw a couple of Evening Grosbeaks yesterday (as mentioned) but none
today. I presume they've moved on. Or I'm being less persistent.

Also a couple of Western Tanagers and a pair of Spotted Towhees with
one in song but I was not sure if they were a couple or a pair of
males ... they were doing a step by step chase through the branches.

On May 27, 2009, at 9:56 PM, pan wrote:

> Greetings, all,
>
> This morning, at least two dozen RED CROSSBILLs were in Douglas fir
> and
> weedy sweet cherry trees on 19th Ave. between Mercer and Republican on
> Capitol Hill. I haven't seen nor heard Evening Grosbeaks for a couple
> of days. (There were at least 80 here a few days ago.)
>
> Cheers,
> Alan Grenon
> Seattle

--
Kevin Purcell
kevinpurcell at pobox.com