Greetings-

Mike Sandy and I were at Center Park in Parma this morning (9:30 am) before the start of my Cleveland Metroparks hike at West Creek Reservation. In mid-conversation I heard the distinct and loud chattering of a White-winged Crossbill. We immediately looked just overhead to see a single male White-winged fly from atop a stand of four spruce trees, out and south, calling the entire time. The rose pink underparts were additionally diagnostic. An incredibly rare bird for the area, even moreso during non-invasion years. Center Park is off of Park Drive in Parma. To get there, take 480 east/west, and exit at State Road. Go south on State Road for several miles. Turn left on Park Drive. Take Park Drive to it's end, where you can park along the roadside to enter the park. This area is completely suburbs. There are only scattered white pines and spruces throughout the vast neighborhoods. An additional highlight was a female Merlin perched and preening atop a dead snag within West Creek reservation, not far from the Center Park entrance.

The only other White-winged Crossbills I've heard of in the state this year are FOUR that were reported from Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo three days ago. Apparently Duris and Links sought these birds and heard them but did not see them. 

JB

Jen Brumfield
Cleveland, OH
Bird illustrator and birding tour guide
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www.jenbrumfield.com
www.northnw.wordpress.com

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