I got a little Cross (Bill that is)

So I have been at my brothers house for about Three weeks waiting on getting my car fixed, its a much longer story than I am willng to type here today, so I will get on with the Crossbills. Here in Centeral Oregon there is the Red Crossbill. I don't know why they call it the Red Crossbill. The male is more Orange than Red and the female is a yellow green color. You will see why they are called "Crossbills" in the photos to follow. I had been seeing a female coming to the bird bath a few times and getting a drimk from the water bucket thats on the fence line. Then Yesterday I went with my Sister to the Metolius river and took a hike down the trail along the river bank. I caught sight of a small bird perched on a water spicket, when I got it in my camera lens it was another female Crossbill. Then I seen that there were more on the ground and moved to a better spot to shoot from. Sure enough there was a male with them.
See, orange not red! cool looking and all but not red.Now the Crossbill gets its name from the fact that their bill crosses and that is how they open pine and fir cones to get at the seeds inside. Now that ypu are a pro on the Crossbill let me add some more photos for you.
Along the way I did pick up a new bird, its called a "Fox Sparrow"
I also got a picture of a Garter Snake with my phone it was just to close to use my camera, but here it is.
I am also working on my next post and I hope to post it from Shady Cove and not Sisters Oregon.... Fingers crossed like a Crossbills beak!

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