Date: 7/26/26 10:56 am From: weatherbird58 <weatherbird58...> Subject: [ia-bird] Red Crossbills - 2 miles south of Boone
Sunday morning, for the third day in a row, I've seen Red Crossbills in or over my yard.
On Friday afternoon, I heard what sounded like a sizable flock, but could not see them due to trees. A bit later, two Red Crossbills landed in a dead ash tree, providing time to get a Merlin recording and a view through an old pair of binoculars I keep in the workshop.
Saturday, I periodically heard a crossbill or two, but not close. In the afternoon, I saw a single bird on a flyby.
This morning, I was perspiring in the garden for awhile and could hear crossbills. A group of four flew directly overhead, vocalizing as they went. I'm not sure what is keeping them in the area.
FYI everyone: Starting August 3rd, Ledges State Park will be totally closed for a 100% repaving project on all roads and parking lots. In preparation for this, the Canyon Road is already closed, and the county road through the park bottoms past the Lost Lake trailhead could close at any time.
For other yard reports, this morning, a Caroline Wren sang loudly for several minutes, the first I've heard in quite a few years. I'm also happy to report three friendly young chickadees. It's something of a relief after last fall's precipitous drop in Chickadee numbers around here.
