In answer to Robin, (yesterday, Saturday) I was there from dawn. The male Two-barred was with about 6 Crossbills at the far west end of the pines at 7:30, showing well right next to the track. It flew east, sitting on the tops of the pines above the main drinking spot and then flying on east with c20 Crossbills. The flock returned at 9:30 and it showed well on the top of a pine and then fed in the open on and off for 20 minutes before continuing west along the pine belt. Also Cuckoo, 2 Redstarts singing NE of the car park, c30 Crossbills, 10+ Redpolls and 2+ Siskin.

29/04 - A very grey and damp start to the day but Crossbills very active this morning and drinking from a tiny puddle teeming with tadpoles. The Two-barred Crossbill was reported at the West end of the Pines.
Also around was a Cuckoo and Raven

On the way home, I called in around 6pm and the Crossbills were still about and showing well in beautiul sunshine.

Crossbill’s still present early this morning,  plus 1 Two-barred showing well.g

Stiil present yesterday:  https://tinyurl.com/kapjtxo along with 15-20 common crossbills which are quite confiding when coming for a drink:  https://tinyurl.com/ltps2mx

Still present this afternoon amongst a large group of common crossbill. The flock is moving about quite a bit, and often splits into 2 or 3 separate groups.

An added bonus was an osprey flying towards the lake (northeast) just above tree level at 5.55pm.

The Two-barred Crossbill disappeared for a couple of hours this morning, but reappeared about 12.30 and showed well on and off for at least an hour. Good numbers of Common Crossbill also present.

Still present Wednesday morning(19/4/17),showing well at times ,with frequent bursts of song !

A surprise find at Haddon Hill late this morning was a male Two-barred Crossbill in pines just outside the car park. It was with about ten Common Crossbills and is apparently still in the same area late this afternoon. It doesn’t seem to be an area that many visit so who knows how long it has been there. Map reference SS 966284.

I did a circuit around the edge of Haddon Hill and recorded (all singing) 58 Willow Warblers, 14 Chiffchaffs, 5 Redstarts, 4 Tree Pipits, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 4 Redpolls, 4 Stonechats but surprisingly only 1 Blackcap.

If the lower area between Lady Harriet’s Drive and Wimbleball Lake hadn’t been devastated by forestry work two years ago no doubt the count of some of the woodland birds would have been much higher!