Hi Bill,
A few of us (Mad Birders) were up at Victory Basin with Tom Berriman a month or so ago.  We heard / saw several groups of WWCB's overhead even then.  And, as you said, many of the trees were loaded with cones.  Will 2012 be "The year of the Crossbill"?  Perhaps.
Scott Sainsbury
CrossHaven Island
Moretown

On Oct 17, 2011, at 12:51 PM, William H. Barnard wrote:

> Seeing Eric's post about spruce budworms reminded me.  On my last trip to Victory Bog I noticed that many of the balsam fir appeared to be sporting a large cone crop.  Admittedly not a botanist but they looked mature.  The last time we had a large cone crop the White-winged Crossbills were everywhere with an occasional "Red" Crossbill seen on the roads.
> 
> Bill Barnard
> Northfield
>