Parrot Crossbill

Arrived at Black Down in East Sussex with Tom at first light for the female Parrot Crossbill that had been present all week. One of the first birds we saw, but it was on it’s own and we were not 100% sure of the id. We waited for about half an hour before the flock which included about forty Common Crossbills came to drink; once with the other birds, it’s huge size (could tell it with the naked eye) was obvious, though the bill was slightly smaller than expected. Tom drew a sketch…

Also had a Woodlark whilst waiting.

Back in time for a breakfast before an uneventful bash around Fowlmere at lunchtime, though a flock of over a thousand Wood Pigeon were seen in Foxton whilst driving back, and managed a few shots of some Teal and Mallards on the ice.

  

Black Down
04 February 2012 08:02 - 09:08
Clear -5 10W
Woodpigeon, Goldcrest (heard), Blue Tit (heard), Coal Tit, Woodlark, Blackbird, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill, Parrot Crossbill

Fowlmere
04 February 2012 12:49 - 14:35
Overcast 0C 12W
Teal, Mallard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper (heard), Wren, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch