Two-barred Crossbill

Two-barred Crossbill is a very rare species in Japan.
It is observed once a few years in Hokkaido.
But it is lucky year in this season, many Two-barred Crossbills were observed around Hokkaido: Sapporo, Teuri-island, Kitami, northern Hokkaido, and Hakodate. At least over 20 individuals were observed in Hokkaido in this season.

Especially flock of Kitami was very tame to human, I went to see them to Kitami and photo of them very short distance.

To tell the true, I organized cruise in Tomakomai this day, but the weather was bad, so I  canceled the cruise and moved to Kitami the distance from my home about 300Km.

At first, I heard the flock containing 4 males, but one individual striked to glass.
When I went to the site, more one individual decreased.

They fed on corn of Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo) planted, which was low height so it can be observed easily,  in the site.

Kitami, Hokkaido. 3rd/Apr/2011.