The Southwest Idaho Birders Association had a field trip out to the Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell, Idaho and they spotted a solitary White-winged Crossbill on Saturday. I was not able to attend, but their report brought birders from all over to see this rare winter visitor. I was able to go out there today, Martin Luther King Day, and met up with my father-in-law Lynn and a couple other prominent local birders.
Right away I was able to see the White-winged Crossbills feeding on pine cones near the tops of the trees in the cemetery. The folks there before me reported that they counted at least two dozen white-wings. While we checked out Golden-crowned Kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Brown Creepers, we had a flock of Red Crossbills munching on pine cones right above our heads. The Red Crossbill numbers have also increased over the last couple of days. The Treasure Valley has been experiencing an inversion and perhaps the weather is moving these birds around in mysterious ways.
