TexBirders, I travelled North to see the Calliope Hummingbird that has been hanging out at Russ Pitman in Bellaire (Houston). Mary Ann Beauchemin at the Nature Discovery Center in the park gave me excellent directions to finding the bird in its "favorite" bush...thanks Mary Ann! Photos can be seen at: www.otterside.com/winter2013 I spent a few hours in the afternoon looking for the Red Crossbill at Claiborne West Park in Vidor. There was another gentleman there who walked the entire perimeter of the park. I joined him for a while and we found a flock of 20-30 Goldfinches working through the Sweetgum trees on the East side, but no Crossbill. There were no birds in the "usual" Sweetgum tree by Shelter #6 referenced in previous emails. The heavily overcast sky made birding difficult since the birds foraging in the tops of the bare trees became silhouettes with little color or detail visible. Note that there are Sweetgum trees with seed pods (or whatever you call those prickly balls) throughout the park. I'm thinking of going again tomorrow...will post my results if I do. Enjoy! Erik Breden Harlingen, Texas (currently in Bellaire/Houston) Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner