Red Crossbills - Mesa County

[Mike Henwood]

Kathleen McGinley and I spent this morning around Fruita Reservoir #1 in the Grand Mesa National Forest on Pinyon Mesa south of Glade Park in Mesa County.  Highlights included:

Singing Fox Sparrow and 100+ Red Crossbills.

The Red Crossbills (Lodgepole Pine or Type 5) included both adult male & females plus a good number of recent fledglings.  It appeared that the youngsters were doing most of the work on the cones (Engelmann Spruce), while the adults acted as sentinels.  The flock called incessantly and I was able to get a decent recording with my i-Phone, which is included in my e-Bird report.  

Mike Henwood

Grand Junction

Mesa County