Popped over today to see Crossbills and was well rewarded with approx dozen Parrot Crossbills giving prolonged views as they perched up in the bare trees above their "drinking puddle" and watched as they appeared to take lichen off the bark and ate it? Also a couple of Commom Crossbills came in a gave brief views but did not stay to drink.Well worth the hassle of negotiating the horrendous amount of traffic around Glossop/Mottram.

A cold, frosty but beautiful sunny start this morning to hopefully catch up with the Parrot Crossbills. The drive over Snake Pass produced 6 Red Grouse flying over the road. I arrived at Fairholme car park at about 9.30am. I knew the road around the reservoirs is closed to vehicles on Sundays so I took my bike and passed a few envious birders along the way making the long (but beautiful) 7km walk! I found the steep track up through the forest but had to push my bike up this bit! A couple of birders were already there and straight away put me onto 2 Common Crossbills feeding quietly in a pine tree. After about 10 mins they suddenly took off and joined an aerial noisy flock that must have been feeding quietly nearby and flew to another part of the forest.
By this time a few more birders began to arrive. We moved higher up the track to where it opens out at the top edge of the forest. After about 10 mins a flock of Crossbills flew in and landed in the bare tree next to the puddle. They took it in turns to decend to have a drink then return to the tree. They gave great views in the sunlight. The flock was approx 19 strong and stayed in the tree for a good 15 mins giving cracking views and allowing close struteny and comparison. At least 4 birds (2m & 2f) were clearly Parrots (1 male in particular looked stunning in the sunlight) but possibly there were others but most were Common. The flock then flew off back into the forest. They hadnt reappeared after 45 mins so I decided to head back - but happy with the experience and a lifer! Whilst cycling back I could hear more Crossbills in the plantation from the road at approx 6km marker.

Other sightings:
2 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
c.20 flock of Siskin (more heard)
Coal Tit - lots! Including 1 bird in the toilet block!

9-2.30pm

On first arrival up the steep track from the 7km marker the parrot crossbills were in the pines on the left but viewing was not great due to the mist & them being a bit sulky. I managed to see 4 in one scope view at one point, 12 at least are still being reported.
There was also plenty of common crossbills around 20+ which showed well on several occasions.
Later in the afternoon I managed to eventually get a record shot of 2 parrot crossbills at the top of the trees.
Plenty of coal tits
1 buzzard
1 kestrel
2 raven
Red grouse heard.

Howden Reservoir 8.45-11.00am


Parrot Crossbill 2m & 2f seen well, however due to the birds moving around in the alders and being partially obscured behind branches, Consensus amongst those birders present there may be as many as 13,
Still favouring the top of the steep track to the left of the blue 7km marker.
Also seen a Common Crossbill flock of 9, potentially contained a male Parrot Crossbill, Not seen sufficiently we'll enough to confirm
Siskin c25
Raven 3
Coal Tit 4

Phonescoped image attached

Saturday 9th Dec, mid afternoon after work.
Thanks to Chris Harper and Roger Baker for your help.

- Parrot Crossbills not seen unfortunately
- 2 Crossbill (1m 1f) flew up from a roadside puddle

11.22 - 11.31

I was luckier than Roger. First attempt and only had to wait 25 minutess before they flew in, first picking at lichen and moss then dropped to the puddle to drink. On view for 9 minutes then flew away down the hillside. I also saw 11 birds but each one I grilled closely or photographed was a Parrot Crossbill. I might not have studied them all but the consensus was 11 parrots. The flight photo shows 10 of them but can't tell anything from that.

Cheers, John

Trecked from the car park at Fairholme up to Windy Corner on Howden Reservoir today in search of the reported Parrot Crossbills. En route were a Raven, 6 Red Grouse, many Goldcrest and Coal Tit, and a Common Buzzard and Kestrel. Arriving there at 12 a single Common Crossbill flew over and that was it.

At 1 we headed back, and whilst opposite Windy Corner 2 other birders shouted that they had seen a flock of Crossbill go onto the Pines. Setting up the scope we then had great if distant views of 2 male PARROT CROSSBILL with a possible female beneath them. Showed at 13.25.

One birder then hopped back on his bike and later reported he at at least 3 males.

So in the end a successful day, but any day but Sunday we could have driven up and saved a 3 hour walk, nice though it was.

Distant highly cropped pic attached. 

09.30-15.00

Walked across the dam, up Win Hill, then followed the edge woodland/moor to Wooler knoll and back. In very wet conditions.

Lots of Meadow Pipits on the moor, but the only other birds seen here were 2 passing Swallows and singles of Jay and Carrion Crow.

Along the edge of the wood though were 6 Goldcrests, 2 Treecreepers, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and lots of Chaffinches.

Wrens were numerous here too, mainly in the areas of bracken and around the stone walls.

One Wren checked every cavity in a stretch of wall, disappearing completely into the larger holes, any insect or spider hiding from the rain here as no chance.

The woodland along the South side of Ladybower will be worth checking out in spring, the big conifers are spaced out well, and mixed with mature oak and rowan.

Being on a slope too, it looks good for Wood Warblers etc,.

Circular walk from Fairholmes up Derwent Reservoir then following the path around Hagg Side and Open Hagg 12.00-4.30pm in glorious spring sunshine

Siskins abundant in the pine trees but hard to see. 10+ flying across rides, one male seen well perched low down and one recently fledged juvenile very brown and streaky with no visible colouration
Lesser Redpoll 2
Coal tits the most abundant bird
Mandarin pair on lake
Great Spotted Woodpecker
very distant Hen Harrier in Woodlands Valley - no other raptors seen
Tree Pipit 3 singing males giving display flights from larches on the edge of the open ground of Open Hagg

The bizarre sight of a man in full batsman's cricket gear including pads and helmet jogging round Derwent Reservoir!!

Great day up here yet again. Loads of Siskins and Redpolls, Common Crossbills and all the other usual stuff including a Red Grouse that decided to imitate on of those Lancaster Bombers that practiced here all those years ago!

Saturday 1st February 9am-12pm

A nice early walk around the reservoir.
1 Kestrel
1 Raven (honking overhead)
1 Common Buzzard
1 Treecreeper
6 Siskins by the feeders at the visitor centre
Many Chaffinch and Coal Tit
Plus all the usuals in good voice.

all morning stood at the watch point

the only raptors sighted were 1 buzzard and 1 kestrel

report of a single bird of the other species that the watch point is known for being sighted twice this week, but that's it.

plenty of sikins
chaffinch
and various tit species bustling about in the trees.

Howden Reservoir 2pm-3:45pm

1 singing Skylark
2 Buzzard
1 Raven
1 Red Grouse (heard)
1 Coal Tit
c70 finches

-- Edited by James Walsh on Monday 27th of February 2012 08:25:35 PM

late post for yesterday 5/6/11 46 species seen. good weather/good birds.
a long walk from bamford train station to northern part off ladybower res,up the west side to fairholmes/derwent dam then back down the east side.
1 LESSER WHITETHROAT on snake pass rd before walking around the res
2 REDSTARTS on the west side 5 on the east side,all males & very busy collecting food
1 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER on the east side close to derwent dam
2 WOOD WARBLERS on the west side about half way up res
1 TAWNY OWL close to wood warblers
1 pair GARDEN WARBLERS feeding 2 juvenilles on east side
COMMON SANDPIPERS all around the res
CURLEWS on the east side in fields
WHITETHROATS, BLACKCAPS, WILLOW WARBLERS & CHIFFCHAFFS all over
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, NUTHATCHES & TREECREEPERS in the woods
+ all usual woodland birds
SISKINS & CHAFFINCHES at feeding staion at fairholmes
BUZZARDS & SPARROWHAWKS over
also SWIFTS,SWALLOWS & HOUSE MARTINS over
also PHEASANTS with lots off chicks
did not hear or see any CUCKOOS