Wing-barred Crossbills are not uncommon, though the vast majority are relatively poorly so (certainly in comparison with Two-barred Crossbill) but there have been some extremely well marked individuals in the UK too. In discussion with Andy Makin this evening, he commented that he annually sees wing barred Common Crossbills up on the Horwich Moors.
I first picked up these birds on calls, and from the outset they struck me as those of common crossbills, though not quite as "ringing" or as far carrying as some I hear. (The difference can perhaps be attributable to the different acoustic effect of the immediate landscape and/or the mood and age of the birds calling at any particular time. I find them at their most strident typically in general excitement when they are about to take flight).
I didn't hear any calls from the Binn Green adult male bird earlier this year which John Rayner heard giving its "toy trumpet" variant call, so it was nice to listen to your suggested link; thanks for that.
Regards, Mike P.
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Today's Crossbills at Walker Fold Wood were feeding exclusively on larch trees, ignoring the pine cones seemingly available close by, and from what I could see of them amidst the camouflage effect of the golden yellow of the foliage, they were all fem/imm birds (yellow- rumped with admixture of yellow/green tones, with no hint of rufous on any indicative of imm males). Counting the birds was difficult and I had the feeling that other birds were calling which were outside the immediate close knit group in my 'scope view. Presently they flew around in a wide overhead arc when my tentative count of 7 suddenly became 17, (though in flight in the poor light they were little more than silhouettes).
I therefore was not able to grill every individual as I should have wished, and could therefore have missed a possible male bird or two. One individual, which I saw quite well as it was perched in full view "side on" showed two clear white wing bars (tips to greater and median coverts) though these were uniformly narrow and far from the distinctive shape and thickness sported by Two -barred adults, (I neglected at the time to consciously check if it showed any tertial tipping, but I think not).
Although aware from the literature that Common Crossbill can show wing bars, despite having seen many hundreds before, I haven't personally seen one with wing bars ever, until today's encounter, and to someone who may not be familiar with Two-barred sp. I can well see how this could mislead the unwary.
Introducing a further element, I've never seen juv. Two-barred Crossbill either before, and the illustration in "Collins" of juv. Two-barred (which DO like larch), comes very close to the appearance of what I was seeing today; - NOT making any daft claims here of course, but it does pay to study anything "a bit different" when the opportunity is there.
I was watching the birds for some 20 minutes either side of 13.00; they finally took flight a second time and headed off across the valley in the direction of Gilligants Farm. A dog walking birder "Terry" shared my 'scope views for part of the time, (although his his dog "Shadrack" wasn't bothered, and had perhaps seen Crossbills before?)
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1465 Fieldfare over SSE in 17 flocks, including ine single flock 500 strong! 40 Redwing over S 1 Crossbill over calling 5 Brambling over S 6 Siskin over S 2122 Woodpigeons over S
This morning Vis Mig watch with Phil Rhodes and Andy Makin, until the fog descended, produced highlights;
1 male Ring Ouzel 11 Crossbills south (groups of 8,2 and then a bird heard calling but not seen) 1,748 Fieldfare south in 21 flocks 7 Bramblings and 11 Siskin south 1 Greylag Goose north.
1 Stonechat present.
-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 15th of November 2014 06:06:35 PM
Fieldfare movements through this site continue to amaze and exceed expectations. A further 2630 passed through in 36 flocks today, with 1381 through yesterday too!
This mornings Vis Mig watch with Simon Johnson and Andy Makin produced the following;
Great White Egret, flew from Belmont area down the Valley towards Delph but then veered off and dropped into Wayoh area at 09:48 (it didn't enter GM). 12 Whooper Swans flew north single Ring Ouzel flew south single Crossbill flew SW (first of the entire autumn!) the unprecedented southerly movement of Fieldfares continues with 7,062 counted up to 14:30!
Also, 26 Pink-footed Geese NW 22 Siskin south 2 Brambling south 620 Woodpigeon south & 793 heading NE 20 Skylark east 531 Starling north
What an incredible November its been so far, this mornings Vis Mig watch with Andy Makin produced;
second year male Hen Harrier on Smithill's Moor, seen twice between 07:50 & 08:40 eventually flying off over the hill towards Belmont. It spent a short period circling over Gale Brook plantation.
2 Merlins, one female south, then a male over Smithill's moor
3 Snow Buntings south, a single then two fem/immature
The Fieldfares continue to move through with 3,937 all SW (over 27,000 so far this Autumn)
865 Pink-footed Geese SE in 5 skiens Whooper Swans seen from Georges Lane included 2 NW, 4 S and 8 SE 6648 Woodpigeon 882 Fieldfare S 2 Snow Bunting (male and female) low NE over Georges Lane, circled and looked like they may have dropped down but lost to the NE.
Info thanks to Dan Brown, Andy Makin and Simon Warford
A phenomenal 33,953 Woodpigeons through South in only a few hours 1730 Feldfare south 33 Redwing 396 Pink-footed Geese SE in 3 skiens 5 Whooper Swans SE over Horwich 6 Brambling 10 Bullfinch south 7 Redpoll 30 Chaffinch 209 Starling NW
Another superb Vis Mig watch this morning with Andy Makin, produced the following highlights:
26 Whooper Swan right over the mast then headed east NINE Snow Buntings (including 5+ males) flew south 2,090 Pink-footed Geese flew east 4,705 Woodpigeon south 74 Redwing south 1,006 Fieldfare south 13 Siskin south
Very unusual to get two good consecutive days but I suppose it happens now and again! Todays Vis Mig highlights upto 10:30 with Andy Makin were:
20 BRENT GEESE sp that flew into Belmont Res, then flew east over Egerton and skirted around Holcombe and flew off east over the Pennines (also seen by Simon Johnson). 7,863 Fieldfare all south or SW with over 6,500 in the first hour! 202 Redwing south 1 Tree Sparrow south 4 Brambling south and others heard within Fieldfare flocks 10 Snipe west
The thrush movement continued today in what was a remarkable migration of Fieldfares between 07:00 & 10:30, highlights with Andy Makin included (all south unless stated otherwise):
1 SWALLOW 7,501 Fieldfare all south (at one point a single flock was about half a mile long!) 1 Ring Ouzel 635 Redwing 20 Whooper Swans ESE (8 & 12) 300 Pink-footed Geese East 5,647 Woodpigeon 13 Stock Dove 103 Chaffinch 4 Brambling 11 Blackbird at height 27 Meadow Pipit 30 Jackdaw
Major thrush arrival last couple of days and myself, Dave Bowman and David Spencer managed to enjoy the spectacle this morning;
4,449 Fieldfare all west or SW 1,295 Redwing mostly west 1,270 Starling west 3 Tree Sparrow north 160 Chaffinch 6 Brambling (3 north, 3 south) 23 Siskin 57 Jackdaw south
3000+ Pink-footed Geese SE in 13 skiens 2 House Martin SE 2 Ring Ouzel S 1353 Woodpigeon S 114 Chaffinch S 42 Goldfinch 3 Bullfinch S 97 Redwing 68 Meadow Pipit 315 Starling N Single Stonechat
1 Jack Snipe 1,845 Pink-footed Geese SE & 371 west (15 skeins in total) 1,120 Woodpigeon south 20 Stock Dove south 1 Brambling north 172 Chaffinch south
9 skiens of Pink-footed Geese with a total of 1320 se and 289 wsw Woodpigeon- 670 nw and 2101 ssw Ring Ouzel- 3 s Twite- two flocks of 9 and 6 s over Scout Road Siskin- 31 Chaffinch- 114 Redpoll- 23 Greenfinch- 34 Bullfinch- 11s
Great White Egret briefly across Georges Lane by the kennels just after 10am today; then seen minutes later from Scout Road and departed north(ish), possibly back to Wayoh Reservoir area.
Info thanks to Ken Haydock, Jill Mills, Andy Makin
2pm til 4pm along George's Lane yesterday. Dipped on the Ring Ouzel's but one guy leaving had photograhed one but not seen any for 2 hours. Stonechat Wheatear Mistle Thrush Kestrel Buzzard Wren Great tit Raven Jay Magpie Carrion Crow Blackbird (at first glance deep in a hawthorn got me a little excited )
13 Ring Ouzels in the area in total today, ranging from Higher Meadows to Coal Pit Lane. 12 Fieldfare 123 Redwing South 3 Wheatear along Georges Lane Male Merlin
At least 7 Ring Ouzels still along Georges Lane (2 in GM side, 5 just into Lancs).
1 Grey Plover heard only in the very misty conditions this morning, as the mist lifted 690 Redwings through SW, flocks of Pink-feet heard calling above mist this morning and c400 SE once mist had lifted.
Probably about 9 Ring Ouzel in the area today, all but one (around the mast cable compounds) along Georges Lane, some of which were over the border in Lancs.
Also present were 2 Wheatear and 9 Stonechat around the mast cable compounds.
Todays highlights between myself, Ian McKerchar, Andy Makin & Dan Brown up to 14:00,
2,434 Redwings mostly SE with some south and also 369 NW. 28 RING OUZELS (17 either through or present along Georges Lane, 5 Holdens Farm, 2 over Scout Road and 4 around the Mast Compounds). 6 Fieldfare through Georges Lane 110 Pink-footed Geese NW 11:50 21 Stonechat. 2 Siskin south 71 Goldfinch south 74 Chaffinch south
A male Ring Ouzel was at Higher Meadows, Georges Lane this morning, also on the move were 1,189 Woodpigeon south, 320 Pink-feet SE & 55 NW & 42 Redwing NW.
During partialy misty conditions, 1783 Meadow Pipits seen moving along with many finches,wagtails and Skylark 3 single Merlins moving south chasing pipits 50+ Pink-footed Geese SE at 07:50 4 Wheatear An amazing sight of 2 Black Redstarts sheltering from rain under the observers car for 5 minutes before the mast; a possible third bird on top of Mast Road just over in Lancashire. 30 Golden Plover
2 black redstarts in the mast compound, later flew into the fenced off area that hold the cables in lancs. 1 wheatear 2 reed bunting along mast rd at least 6 kestrel 2 buzzard 5 mistle thrush 2 stonechat just before the kennels. 2 chiffchaff, 1 singing along georges lane.
wilderswood
2 great spotted woodpecker 2 nuthatch 3 siskin over
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 5th of October 2014 09:01:10 PM
Very low numbers of grounded birds again, however there was a flock of 70 Pink Footed Geese over heading east.
Birds seen/heard: 2 Wheatear, 1 Kestrel, 2 Carrion Crow, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Skylark, 1 Red Grouse, and the highlight was a female/immature Black Redstart on the main mast compound.
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