Although it is only August, it is never too early to speculate. So with that in mind: could this be the year for a major Red Crossbill flight? After considering the rash of Red Crossbill sightings so far this month, it seems at least possible.
Red Crossbills are currently moving in unprecedented numbers in the Upper Midwest. Karl Bardon, from his perch at Hawk Ridge (Duluth, Minnesota), has already broken the state high-count three times in the past two weeks alone! Since 8/15, he has tallied 2811 southbound Red Crossbills, including 1192 yesterday (8/24):
Hawk Ridge fall counts (2012)
Other Red Crossbill sightings from around the Midwest come from Kansas, central Nebraska, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin. Things don't seem quite so advanced (yet?) in the Northeast; however, there have been multiple sightings from Massachusetts in the past week, a flyover yard bird in Connecticut (8/24), and a single flyover in northeastern Pennsylvania just this morning (8/25). If we compare last year's August eBird records with those already entered from this fall, we can see a pretty clear difference. This is particularly noticeable in the Upper Midwest, but a closer inspection of the Northeast reveals crossbills inching their way south.
Whether or not this early season push actually amounts to anything is too soon to say, but, in any case, it is worth keeping an eye - and particularly a keen ear - out for Red Crossbills in the near future.
