Common Crossbill - a possible breeding pair

 I've seen this pair of Common Crossbill in the same location in Matlock Forest several times during the past month and I'm hoping that they might be a breeding pair. 

I've seen juveniles with adults several times in the autumn but only once managed to prove breeding, in April 2020 when I saw an adult feeding recently fledged young. I suspect one or two pairs breed most years but it's not easy to confirm this.

I haven't managed to find any more migrants in the current cold and wet weather.

Common Crossbill female and male (upper)

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.

Whooper Swans over Beeley Moor

My first local Whooper Swans of the year today, with six birds seen distantly from Beeley Moor crossing Whitesprings Plantation heading towards Matlock. They are not the first of the autumn though, as Alan saw 11 going east on the 4th November.

Whooper Swans

It was probably a family party but the birds were too distant to be certain of their age.

There was another reasonable easterly movement of Pink-footed Geese with 540 counted in 10 skeins this morning. Also several Common Crossbill and a flock of 30-40 Brambling on Flash Lane.

Footnote: A party of 6 Whooper Swans, 2 adults and 4 juveniles, were flushed from Broadstone Reservoir south of Huddersfield on the morning of 19th November and were seen in the afternoon at Shipley Lake 67km to the SE. I'm sure that must have been the same party which I saw over Beeley.

More Common Crossbill and the shrike still around

I watched a nice party of Common Crossbills coming down to drink on Farley Moor today and for a change we had some sunshine. I've seen up to thirty crossbills in the last few days but generally just flying over so it was nice to see them at close quarters.

Common Crossbill - female (L) and perhaps an immature male with green in the plumage

The Great Grey Shrike is still around but is proving very elusive covering the area from behind Matlock Golf Club and Matlock Moor to the Farley clearfell area and perhaps also Bottom Moor.

Great Grey Shrike

I've had a good month so far having recorded 82 species in the Darley Dale area (Matlock, Bakewell, Chatsworth, Youlgreave & Beeley Moor) surprisingly I've still to see Sparrowhawk, for which I blame the weather and so far no Skylark.

I've updated my write-up on the shrike.

Lockdown day 12 - Crossbill breeding success

After adding Pink-footed Goose to my garden lock-down list when two flew north with two Greylag Geese this morning, taking me to 52 species, I cycled up to the moor again for my permitted daily exercise.
I was hoping for some spring migrants but the only bird in that category was the Chiffchaff which is now present in decent numbers on the moor.
Cycling down a track I had a couple of Common Crossbill calling then surprisingly one landed in a tree directly above my head. I wasn't going to bother looking at it as it was such an awkward angle but I was glad I did as I could immediately see the heavy streaking on the underparts that immediately identified it as a juvenile. I moved away so I could get a better view of it but it flew a short distance whilst calling repeatedly. It joined an adult female and was begging for food and then a second bird appeared. 
They are a very scarce breeding bird in Derbyshire so I was very pleased to get my first confirmed breeding locally.

Common Crossbill female with juveniles

Common Crossbill - Flash Lane

There has been a small flock of Common Crossbill around Flash Lane throughout the winter. The numbers have varied peaking at around 20 at the turn of the year but generally around 6 to 10 birds. Males have been singing and I've seen occasional display flights. 
The Common Crossbill is known to be one of the earliest breeding passerines and in other areas of the UK nests with eggs have been reported but so far I have seen no signs of nesting activity. Strangely Doug Aston photographed juveniles on Flash Lane in July 2018 and I can only assume that these were from a second brood.
This morning I had a group of around 6 birds low down in the trees and managed to get some photos, usually they are either in flight or at the very tops of conifers so don't give much opportunity for photos.
Ringing studies have shown that both males and females can have orange in the plumage but only males have an orange throat so all three birds depicted below look to be males.

Common Crossbill adult male

Common Crossbill immature male

Common Crossbill immature male

More migrant arrivals and signs of birds breeding

More Spring arrivals today with my first local Willow Warbler (I heard one at Carsington last week) and Tree Pipit in the Flash Lane area with House Martin a couple of days ago.
Evidence of the breeding season getting underway with drake Mandarins chasing a female over Rowsley and a female Siskin having a comical tussle with some Sheep's wool which it was struggling to remove from a Hawthorn bush.

Mandarin drakes chasing a duck

Siskin collecting nesting material

Off course other species are much further advanced with Mallard ducklings on the river already and I'm expecting juvenile Common Crossbills on the wing some time soon and had great views of a young male bird on the moors today.

Common Crossbill - presumed first summer male

Brambling influx

The number of Brambling in the area has continued to increase, as have the places where I have seen them locally. Which now include the area around Chatsworth House including the woods around Swiss Lake and the Calton Lees Garden Centre, Coombs Road in Bakewell, Whitworth Park in Darley Dale with several hundred on Flash Lane and at least 500 on Bents Lane this morning. However, the largest flock I have heard of is 1500 at Matlock Moor at the Cuckoostone Lane end. This is possibly the largest single flock recorded in the County although The Birds of Derbyshire records 5700 which were counted flying in to roost in Shinningcliff Wood in December 1967.

Brambling - male

The flock of Common Crossbill is still present on Flash Lane but are only seen intermittently and often are dispersed in to smaller groups, but I counted over 40 this morning around 70 Acre Plantation where there is also a large mobile flock of Lesser Redpoll which included 2 Mealy Redpoll on Monday.

Common Crossbill - the topmost male looks rather large billed although it is slightly open

A late Small Copper and more on crossbills

I suspect this will be my last Small Copper of the year, sat in the sunshine on the edge of Beeley Moor yesterday, rather worn now. 

Small Copper

I also saw the Common Crossbill again in 70 Acre Plantation, about 40 all feeding in the same conifers. It was interesting to watch the crossbills feeding, some birds removed the cone completely and flew a short distance with it to the centre of the tree, presumably where they can support it to remove the seeds. 
I think the tree in the photo is a Sitka Spruce and there is an interesting article on the RSPB web site which looks at the impact of the introduction of Sitka Spruce on wintering crossbill in the UK over the the crossbills normal food plant, the Norway Spruce.
I like this photo, showing two female type Common Crossbill with a Siskin and Lesser Redpoll. 

Common Crossbill with Siskin and Lesser Redpoll

Common Crossbills - Flash Lane

A change in the weather today with the calm, warm, anticyclonic system replaced by a strong cool NW wind and overcast skies. It didn't look promising first thing but three swans flying high over Flash Lane must have been Whooper Swans. Several parties have been seen at Carsington in the last few days.
After several groups of Fieldfare overhead and several finch flocks a part of at least 35 Common Crossbill flew over and disappeared towards Whitesprings Plantation. More groups of finches crossed the lane heading west then more, or possibly the same, Common Crossbills. 
A party landed reasonably close and posed briefly for photos in 70 Acre Plantation, hope they hang around.

Common Crossbills - male upper and female

Common Crossbill flock shot of 32 birds

Displaying Common Crossbill

I came across a small group of Common Crossbill locally today feeding in larches with a large group of Siskin. Several of the males were in song and one male gave a brief display flight with wings held open whilst it glided giving a typical, repeated 'glip' call.
Common Crossbill is a sporadic breeding bird in the area and they are very early nesters and could be feeding young already!

Common Crossbill - male

Common Crossbill - female

Hawfinch and Crossbills

I was very surprised this morning to come across a lone male Hawfinch on Flash Lane. This is the first time I've seen one so close to the moor. Walking back along the lane crossbills could be heard calling but were hidden by the trees. It sounded like quite a few birds and this may have been the same flock I saw at the end of November in Farley which numbered at least 20 birds but again seen only in flight.

Common Crossbill - males

Walking through 70 Acre Plantation with Alan we found two males which we were able to confirm were both Common Crossbill. There have been several flocks of Parrot Crossbill seen in the country including one small group in Upper Derwentdale so it's worth checking any crossbills seen.
Back in Darley Dale I saw at least 4 Hawfinch at St Helen's Church but speaking to the couple of other birders present it sounded like all 8 may still be visiting the churchyard.

Hawfinch - that's an impressive bill!

Crossbill - Flash Lane

I've seen Crossbills flying over Flash Lane for the past 3 or 4 weeks, usually just ones or twos but there were 13 on 22nd October. This morning a party of 10 landed in trees at the moorland end of Flash Lane but didn't stop for long. Quite a few red males in the group which is unusual.
No sign of any Waxwing this morning nor of the Great Grey Shrike.

Common Crossbill

More Crossbills at Chatsworth

This photo is of part of a flock of around 50 feeding on Larch cones on the bottom edge of the clear fell below Park Farm. Most of the time was spent in the Larches but occasionally they flew to this lone Birch tree in the clear fell. Nothing but Common Crossbill as far as I could see.

Common Crossbill

Common Crossbill - Chatsworth

Although I see crossbills most days when I am around the moor they are usually birds flying over and only advertising their presence by the distinctive chipping call. I came across a small party of 15 birds today in the Larches by the second weir at Chatsworth and managed to get some record shots in very poor light. With there being both Parrot and Two-barred Crossbills in the country there is a chance of finding one of these rarities in the area so any crossbills are worth scrutinising if you get the chance. 
Just as I was leaving Ken called with news of a Great Grey Shrike in Farley Moor, which I'll update above.

Common Crossbill

Crossbill Flash Lane

We have had very few sightings of Crossbill so far this year so Ken Smith did well not only to locate two fine red males but also to get some excellent photographs.

Common Crossbill male (photo Ken Smith)

Common Crossbill - Flash Lane

James photographed this pair of Common Crossbill on Flash Lane today. The female is quite interesting in that she shows two quite pronounced wing bars which is a variant which is only occasionally encountered and which has in the past led to confusion with the much rarer Two-barred Crossbill.

Common Crossbill - male and female

Crossbills Hellbank Plantation

A party of at least 40 Common Crossbill were moving around Hellbank Plantation late afternoon with a lot of calling.

Crossbill