I checked out Ferncliff Cemetery in Springfield again for crossbills at
about noon today. I had seen some briefly in December but hadn't been
able to find them again since. I first found a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
that seems to have spent the winter in the cemetery. Then I found a
couple Pine Siskins. I think there were at least 5. Then I heard some
crossbills and they flew into a tree nearby. I counted 17 at one point
but there might have been a few more. Several settled into a conifer of
some kind and I was able to watch them for at least 15 minutes. Then I
left but they were still feeding. Apparently they have been feeding in
this tree for a while because they were cutting some of the cones off
and I had noticed cones of this tree on the ground before.

The tree they were feeding in was very close to the chapel in the
cemetery. Enter the cemetery at the main entrance on McCreight Avenue.
You will immediately see a building on your left. After you pass the
building turn left and you will quickly see some cones on the road near
a sign that points to the chapel. That is the tree they are using.

Doug Overacker
Springfield, Ohio

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