Common Crossbill - Matlock Forest

 Although I've managed to see Common Crossbills in every month this year the numbers were generally very low until the autumn. I was only seeing 3 or 4 birds regularly through the summer and it was not possible to confirm whether they bred, although I have done so in the past. 

In August numbers increased and I had a flock of 30 and there have been regular reports of 30-40 since then, primarily in Fourty Acre and Seventy Acre Plantations. It's difficult to be certain of the numbers because they are not always together and are not easy to count unless you get a clear view of a flock in flight. I got photos of a group of 12 this morning although as usual they were at the very top of the conifers.

Common Crossbill

There was some passage of Pink-footed Geese over the moor this morning, I had three skeins totalling 220 birds but there have been reports of larger numbers elsewhere in the County.

Pink-footed Geese.

I saw several Brambling this morning but no large flocks yet and still no Waxwing although there have been up to 16 at in the Crosspool area of Sheffield so not too far away now.