Interestingly, I also have observed recently and in other summers Evening Grosbeaks picking through fire pits at campgrounds. This was most notable up near bumping lake. I know grosbeaks switch to eating insects in summer, taking advantage of spruce budworm larvae. I wonder if switching to insects in summer cause them to miss a nutrient or two in their diet, hence the graveling and "ashing" I and others have witnessed during this time.

Jeff Kozma

Yakima

j c r underscore 5105 at charter dot net
----- Original Message -----
From: Kelly McAllister
To: 'Tweeters'
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 9:39 AM
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] Evening Grosbeaks ubiquitous near WenatcheeNationalForest area


I've seen flocks of Pine Siskins and Red Crossbills on US 2 near Steven's Pass, during winter. I've also seen what I thought was unusual bevavior of "winter finches" under bridges. A pair of Evening Grosbeaks were totally absorbed in eating the dirt under the Indian Creek bridge, US 12, near Rimrock, a couple of summers ago. I approached very close and they paid no mind to me at all. Also on US 12, this past spring, a flock of Red Crossbills gathered under the Cora bridge on the Cowlitz River and pecked around among the rocks under the bridge. I think that Richard Carlson is probably correct that these attractions to particular patches of what appears to be gravel or bare dirt is salt-seeking behavior. I wonder if the roadside patches that Christy saw the birds frequenting might have been some kind of stockpile locations for gravel mixed with salt or maybe they were places where run-off water, laden with salt, pooled up and evaporated. There are some interesting dynamics here that I'd like to better understand.



Kelly McAllister

Olympia, Washington




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From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu [mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of notcalm at comcast.net
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 12:23 AM
To: Christy RJ
Cc: Tweeters
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Evening Grosbeaks ubiquitous near Wenatchee NationalForest area



Hello Christy,



Sounds like a great experience. I look forward to seeing photos. Is it possible they were picking up grit? I have seen some species including mixed flocks of Swallows using a favorite gravel site, sometimes near a road or parking area. Steven's pass has a parking area that is sometimes used by flocks of Grosbeaks for grit. On the other hand, maybe there is some special food source available right now. I have often found that my photos or video often provide detail and answers not readily seen in the field. Thanks for posting.



Dan Reiff

MI





----- Original Message -----
From: "Christy RJ" <christyrj at hotmail.com>
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 11:30:31 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Evening Grosbeaks ubiquitous near Wenatchee National Forest area

Hi Tweets,

I joined a group of folks for a hike yesterday in the Teanaway and, deciding to take advantage of being in the area, stayed over an extra day to do some birding.

Man did I get lucky with the EVENING GROSBEAKS! I encountered several flocks in several different locations. At one spot, I had them literally almost flying through my open car windows while I photographed from inside, and at another location they were flying all around overhead and even nearly landing on my car (I was not in the car that time but rather down the road a bit with the camera).

My first lucky spot was on the road to Red Top Mountain, about 1.2 miles in, in an open clearing where they were feeding (on insects, I assume?) in a grassless "dug up" looking area near the left side of the road. They seemed to sometimes be pulling with their beaks at a small mound (which blocked my photographic interests until I later pulled the car forward a bit more). They went back and forth from the feeding area to a nearby pine tree. I sat in my car and watched and photographed for over an hour. They got so used to my being there that, when they would spook for whatever reason and fly off en masse, several times they headed my direction and that's when I half-expected a few to come right through my car windows, they were that low and close. I also got buzzed several times by a curious Hummingbird while I was sitting there. :)

Another lucky spot was when, on a lark on my way home today, I followed the signs on Hwy 97 to the little historic town of Liberty. I drove through the town and just beyond to a large open "turnaround" area that forks off into two smaller unpaved roads. That clearing happened to be FULL of EVENING GROSBEAKS, as well as PURPLE FINCH and PINE SISKIN. They were, again, feeding in groups on the ground (this time in a mix of the three species), in a shady spot amongst all the broken shale or whatever it was that covered the roadway. Again I'm very curious to know what they were finding to eat there (?). I watched and photographed for nearly an hour, though there was a surprising amount of vehicle traffic that kept spooking the birds (and choking me with road dust). The birds were once again alternating between the feeding spot and one particular nearby pine tree, as well as flying about to other surrounding trees. I used my point & shoot camera for a little video to capture the fun of all their buzzing calls to one another.

My last big notable encounter was also on Hwy 97, at the Mineral Springs Resort area. A flock of Grosbeaks was once again feeding on the ground in a shady spot just to the right of the highway near the "general store" or whatever it was (I was too busy looking at the birds to note what the building was :). The flock was coming in to feed and then flying back across the highway to trees in the Mineral Springs campground.

I haven't had much experience with Evening Grosbeaks prior to this weekend, so all of this was particularly exciting for me. :) I filled the memory card on my camera. If I got any decent shots, I'll try to remember to post a link here.

Cheers,

~Christy Jobe
christyRJ at hotmail dot com
Kenmore, WA


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