Certain participants of the Christmas bird count sat eagerly awaiting Tom Imhof’s tally of the American Goldfinch, so they could reveal what they expected to be the surprise write-in of the day–Red Crossbills. It was an even greater sensation than they had anticipated, for two parties reported them near Lake Purdy (one saw a flock of 30), while another party had previous sightings from the Vestavia area.