Several small groups of Crossbills on the Croydon Hill complex today today, vocalising and seen, including a group of 8 that showed well and close on the deciduous tree just to the north of the stile at SS984394. Also Dipper, Dartford Warbler, 3 Fallow Deer, 2 Red Deer, Fox. The Dartford Warbler was only the second I have recorded in over 60 visits. The other was at a different place last year but also November.

Crossbills have a chequered history on Exmoor and breeding often occurs in influx years but even then tends to be sporadic. Croydon Hill is the premier site but scattered records occur elsewhere mainly south of the A39 and north of the ridge between Grabbist Hill and Tivington. Last year was a good year. A friend of mine saw a huge flock of about 100 birds in Hopcott Combe on the 30th of December last year, one of the biggest flocks recorded in Somerset.