Had a non birding day today but the better half suggested a short visit to Ness Gardens near Neston on the Wirral - couldn't quite believe my eyes when there was a flock of 15-20 Crossbills in a Birch tree which they then left to get back into the cones on the bank of Scots Pine that acts as a windbreak. Good job I'd taken my camera just in case... the males were a definite orange colour not as red as I'd expected.

The I said as we were so close I'd like a look at Parkside and as we turned round in the car park and drove back towards the pub a spectacular male Hen Harrier flew up the marsh 100m away and settled in front of the car park [roosting as it was 5.10pm?]

Better birds on a non birding afternoon than I usually see in weeks!