I think the crossbill crown must go to you steve, however rumours have it that some else is watching them at Binn green as well today, sods law I am unable to get out today but will be out tomorrow. I will take up your offer of a tour of watergrove hopefully before this year is out, have fun keep birding
Whilst doing the WeBS count at Watergrove this morning, another Crossbill flew over calling, heading NW. Sorry to rub yet more salt into the wound Paul! If you want to come over some time and have a try for them let me know. Ian McK and Woosey had no success on Wednesday when they made an unannounced visit to try and rob some points off me! Yesterday morning at Steward Barn, to the north of the resr, I heard what sounded distinctly like a Snow Bunting calling overhead. I picked up 11 birds high up, heading SE, which were unfortunately too distant to positively ID.
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
the haslingden birds are the same as the stocks res birds foreign ones,, seen flocks of them I only need one blooming manchester crossbill for me county list damm things flying about,if they continue to be this elusive I am not going to put one on my county list.
Yet another Crossbill, a single bird, came in from the SW just before 8 a.m. and passed close enough for me to see the hooked tip of its bill. In no time at all it had covered the 2.5 km from the reservoir dam to the northern ridge, where I lost sight of it. Someone in Calderdale or Rossendale may have been lucky enough to catch up wiith it. Sorry Paul! There has been a regular flock at Haslingden Grane, birds were seen well and photographed by Steve Collins last weekend. Details on the Rossendale Ornithologists Club forum.
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
I will do my best Paul. Simon Hitchen said recently that I must have a pine cone strapped to my head! It is frustrating that all the records are of birds flying over. If I do find any actually in the plantations I'll let you know and will be happy to help you find them.
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
please do us a favour steve and nail one of those crosbills to a tree for us, or at least keep us up to date if they are a regular site over the next few weeks
Watergrove 08:20 to 10:15 hrs. A male Ring Ouzel gave cracking views perched in the open on a Hawthorn bush on the edge of Million Tree Wood, before flying off south towards Wardle. The first ever November record here. A Kingfisher was also a first for November. It looks as if these birds are determined to get themselves into the BTO Atlas as wintering species! 6 Crossbills flew over Ramsden Road plantation by Little Town and may have gone down into the trees to the east of the Road. 2 Whooper Swans flew west over Brown Wardle and the first Goldeneye (a male & 2 f.imm.'s) of the winter were on the reservoir. The latter posing a problem as to which tetrad they were in, with the dividing line running hrough the middle of the reservoir. A GPS is not much use in these circumstances unless you can walk on water! A flock of 30+ Siskins was feeding on Alder cones along Higher Slack Brook. There have been good numbers passing through over the last few weeks. Also present a Great Crested Grebe, 4 Snipe, 2 Teal, a couple of Fieldfare, 15 Redwing and a Kestrel.
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
sods law I am unable to get out today 
but will be out tomorrow.
I only need one blooming manchester crossbill for me county list damm things flying about,if they continue to be this elusive I am not going to put one on my county list.
A GPS is not much use in these circumstances unless you can walk on water!