Towheeblog

This Red Crossbill was photographed by Jim McDaniel.  The bird was hanging from a feeder in his garden on Orcas Island, Washington.  There, as everywhere, the Crossbill is an unpredictable visitor, or part-t9ime resident, more fickle even than tourists or tradewinds. Mr. McDaniel looks forward to his next visit from Crossbills, though they’ll never write in advance.  Just show up when the cones are ripe and the season suits.  They’ll appear, then disappear, without warning.  This one time at least they left behind an idelible image.  And I thank Jim for sharing it with us.