The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I was there from just after dawn to 10am on the 17th with half a dozen others and there was no sign. Conditions were difficult though with fog.

James

I spent all Sunday afternoon there myself but no sign of 2 Barred.
I did however see a dozen Crossbill fly into the Larches that run the length of the 1st fairway. (Tee next to buggy parking area).
They flew in from the direction of and over the adjacent main road. (A18 ?) I had a quick look/ride around outside of this triangular area of woodland, sandwiched between A18, M180 & a minor Rd.
There appears to be a lot of Larches in this area.
But there's a 'No Entry' sign on what I. assume is access gates?

I'll be there early tomorrow

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

cheers James;
Yes the area between the two roads has a lot of larch and it could be where its going; its a sort of no go area with a scout hut and last week police dogs being trained in the middle of it but if you can sneak in it may be worth a look! the larches then progress southwards at Twigmoor and on the east side of the road past Twigmoor but again that is a no entry area; there are a few larch in the wood to the north of the golf course but again private though it wasn't in them when I looked last week; the Common flock seems to be breaking up into pairs and small groups no doubt some may be thinking about nesting so if its with just odd Commons then will be more difficult to locate;
a scarce and irregular breeding species in Finland most nest further east across the Russian taiga where according to BWP they can nest anytime from February to August depending on the local abundance of available cone crops

Think I can do sneaking in Graham!

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

The bird was relocated this morning by Kev WILSON at 0900 and gave good, prolonged views for about 20 minutes. Not being familiar with the surrounding area the best directions I can give are to walk from the Golf Centre along the track at the back almost as far as the workshop area. Hang a left for about 400 metres and the bird was associating with 4 or 5 of its Common cousins in Pine, Beech and Larch trees. The "trumpet like" call was not heard but it did give brief bursts of song.

Regards

Nige (with KMW and RKW)

Excellent directions Nige.
Thanks for the heads up on location of bird.
Big thanks to Kev for re-finding it on my 4th attempt.

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

No sign of the 2BC today..was told it was there when in Ashby by mal this morning,,but wasted journey..no birders,2 maybe 3 crossbills shot over the Buildings but a semi circular walk round found none/only find out about it been hibernating...and gardening,.................

Crossbills are protected Roger you really shouldnt be shooting them:

The male Two-barred was particularly vocal yesterday afternoon; after hearing it give a short series of trumpet calls in the morning I found it sitting in the top of a beech with a pair of Commons; it called and sang fro almost 15 minutes giving the high pitched, rapidly repeated chit call for long periods interspersed with short bursts of song and also quieter trumpet calls; after loosing the bird I walked back towards the main path and heard it giving a loud and far carrying trumpet call from a group of larches; it then flew into a beech and again gave the almost trilling chit chit chit calls before making a few more quieter and more melodic trumpet notes. Unfortunately the sound recording gear was at home!

the chit chit calls can be heard on xeno-canto along with a series of trumpet calls but beware there are a lot of recordings of White-winged Crossbill on there

The Collins guide notes the voice as --- call weaker and higher than Common Crossbill's and not so metallic and echoing chip chip chip which is a good description; when you get used to the call it is pretty easy to pick out from Common;
Collins also notes has a diagnostic nasal, slightly discordant piping as if from a muted toy trumpet 'tviiht' -- not sure how the twiiht is pronounced but the description seems accurate

latest pics at

http://pewit.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/two ... lincs.html

if wind every drops intend visiting again for better views & to hopefully hear it calling. Great photo's Graham!

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

Went again this afternoon,no Crossbills and no Birders!!How many times do you have to go?before it shows?

Hi Roger,

If work permits, I suggest you try a morning visit, the Crossbills seem much more elusive in the afternoon.

Roy

Roger you obviously were in a different place to me and a guy from York. We were by the 6th green where there were plenty of crossbill. At least 20 and redpoll, nuthatch and siskin too. The crossbill were flighty but showed well at times. Couldn't pick out the two-barred unfortunately. Walk down the main path to the workshop and turn left and follow the path to the greens down there. Certainly once the clouds cleared it was easier to see the crossbill but the seemed to become elusive

Spent from 09.45 to about 14.00 looking for the crossbills with Roy H, Chris Heaton et al, and glimpsed it on just one occasion, although others saw it for longer spells (whole minutes). I did hear it singing on one occasion and called several times, but in the tops of pine trees and not showing. Looks like it may have shown better at 3.15pm. Common Crossbills (20+) very flighty, but some paired up and one or two males singing.
Also Nuthatch (2+), Treecreeper in song and a Red Kite over NW.
Phil

Roy,
Thankyou very much..