By Sally Siko

Lol, got my 300th bird on January 1st!
Turned out that a flock of Red Crossbills are hanging out in a grove of long leaf pines less than an hour from my home.
Figured getting to lay eyes on these beauties today would be a nice way to kick off 2023, I went out to find them 🙂

When I arrived I noticed that my lens apparently had moisture collecting in the front element. Must have happened yesterday while I was birding in the rain up in Virginia.
Looks like I’m going to have to send the lens out for repairs.
Oh well.
Happily though, my friend Corie let me borrow her lens so that I could snap off a couple shots of these Lifers.
Unfortunately, good glass or not the lighting conditions were terrible this morning so I’m not pleased with these photos at all.
Still, getting a shot of a lifer vs. not is a difference maker IMO so I’m grateful to Corie for lending me her glass.
Am blessed with having great friends like her for sure!

Red Crossbills are a year round resident of North Carolina but their numbers fluctuate season to season depending on the region.
In the summer, they are known to nest in the highest elevations of the Appalachian mountains but during the winter months, flocks of Crossbills disperse throughout the state which makes them slightly easier to find.
Still, they are considered a rarity in the Piedmont and along the coast so it’s always super cool to catch a glimpse of these handsome birds when the opportunity presents itself!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5