Crossbill

A week or so prior to the lockdown I took a drive out to a site I know in Macclesfield Forest, to look for some Crossbills, Siskins and Lesser Redpoll. I'd tried a couple of weeks earlier but with no luck, so was crossing my fingers.
It was classic weather conditions for this area at this time of year. Icy cold, with cloud rolling in like a fog, only to clear just as quickly as it had arrived.
I wandered around the usual areas and had Siskins overhead frequently. Lots of Chaffinch and Goldfinch and then two larger birds appeared and landed high up in one of the conifers. A pair of Crossbill. A female and a very good looking male.

They never really settled and moved off again, but knowing they were around was good. So, I bided my time and employed the age old birdwatchers tool of fieldcraft. Staying in a position so as not to spook the birds and allowing them to go about their business without noticing me. It worked and they came back to a tree not far from me. 😀

Lots of excuses of poor light, fences and branches in the way etc, but it's always such a joy to see these birds whatever the conditions. I could see them very well with my binoculars.

The male in very good condition.

The female, hanging upside down.