[EMAS] Red Crossbills in the Black Mountains
- From: Marilyn Westphal <mjwestph@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: carolinabirds <carolinabirds@xxxxxxxx>, emas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 30 May 2011 17:56:23 -0400
This is shaping up to be a great summer for Red Crossbills in the
mountains. Mark and I have been to Beacon Heights near Grandfather
and found them there a week and a half ago, we had a couple on the
Balsam Mountains count on May 21, and had them all over the place in
the Black Mountains (Mt Mitchell area) yesterday (32 so far with
another section waiting to report). As in 2009, so far the center of
activity and the easiest place to see them seems to be in the Bald
Knob Ridge area. They were seen at the trailhead at mile 355 on the
parkway and about 0.2 mile down the trail where there is a clearing
caused by downed trees. This is just a little bit farther down the
trail than they were centered a couple of years ago for those who
visited them then. Besides at Bald Knob Ridge, Gail and Charlie
Lankford found one sitting on the Mt Mitchell sign at the ranger
station, Mark, Nora, Chris and I found some at Balsam Gap at mile
359.9ish on the parkway, a couple of flyovers at the MMSP restaurant,
flyovers along the Buncombe Horse Range trail at MMSP, and quite a few
in trees along the parkway between mile 352 and 355, although they
were difficult to see there because they were in the second row of
trees. An excellent crop of spruce cones seems to be developing and
I'm sure that's why they are here in such numbers this year. The
cones are still young and very green, but adults will eat the green
cones. They usually don't start nesting until late June or early
July, though, so we'll have to wait and see where they end up. For
now if you'd like to try, Bald Knob Ridge trail is right at mile 355
where there is a little gravel turnoff, but check along the road as
well. Mile 355 is very close to Ridge Junction overlook and the
entrance to MMSP. Also, often when Crossbills are present in the area
they spend some time up around the Mt Mitchell ranger station
gathering grit from the road. Usually that isn't until later in the
season, but it's always worth checking.
Marilyn
--
Marilyn Westphal
Advance, NC
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