Today I visited Mohican State Forest for a few hours this morning and had a TON of white-winged Crossbills.  If you have not seen white-winged crossbills yet and/or haven't had much luck chasing them this is the place to see them.  I heard them several of them at varous locations in the park but far and away the best spot was the Gorge Overlook.  At the Gorge Overlook a flock flew past at least every 10 to 15 minutes, most of them ranging from 20-50 (approximately) individuals.  Not all of these flocks stopped where they could be viewed but several did, offering GREAT looks.  One flock landed in a hemlock tree directly above me.  They landed at the top where I couldn't see them but worked their way down (dropping cones on me the whole way) until they were in the bottom branches, only a few feet away.  It was incredible and I have never seen anything like it.  I would have a hard time pinning down the number of crossbills I think I saw (mainly
 because I think I saw several of the flocks more than once) but my guess is that there were at least 200 or so white-wings around (including those not at the overlook).
 
Good Birding!
 
Ryan Steiner
Smithville, OH




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