Crossbills in Glasgow(ish) area

~T~ · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 07:59 PM

Apparently a flock of seven crossbills have been seen in Linn Park in Newlands and also a ring necked parakeet is in the area. Might take a wee wander down there at the weekend with the camera. I've been told it's a good place to spot kingfishers too.

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 13-07-2011, 04:14 AM

There seem to be quite a few Crossbills around currently. I was leading a field trip at Bookham, Surrey at the weekend + a flock of c20 flew over + a there are a few reports of birds around London. Maybe this is an irruptive year.

Endrick · #3 (**permalink**) 13-07-2011, 08:11 AM

Hope you see them. If not then I live just 10 miles north of the outskirts of Glasgow and Crossbills are quite common here and I had them in my garden last winter. Good places to see them fairly close to Glasgow are the west bank of Loch Lomond and the walks around the East side of Carron Valley reservoir. They're quite difficult to see in the summer.

htcdude · #4 (**permalink**) 13-07-2011, 08:53 AM

I hope there's more this year, I've not seen them before! Maybe Scottish Crossbill which make it's way to Hayes too?

Dogghound · #5 (**permalink**) 13-07-2011, 11:41 AM

We have had very good numbers from April with groups of upto c.80 still occuring in a southerly direction along the coast away from their local breeding sites. I have had small groups of juveniles on an almost daily basis along the coast through May and June. Usually we start seeing them late July/August into September outside their local breeding sites. So could have been good winter for breeding, further north.

Your best bet is to familiarise yourself with their calls (JIPP) which is quite soft and often given in bursts of 3s or 4s, they are often very inconspicous and are often found in the tops of trees particularly spruce and larch. Its always worth checking puddles on roads etc as they regularly come down to the ground to drink.