Crossbill sp (Danny Rumble)
We started on a grey, cool morning in the carpark at the west end of Loch Morlich, as we arrived a single male Crossbill was sat at the top of a tree in the carpark, unfortunately flying off before it could be identified or seen by most of the group!. We had a brief discussion on the ecology of the three species of Crossbill in Scotland, the history of Scottish Crossbill from 1904 onwards and the major sound analysis projects that have been undertaken on crossbills to date in Scotland and Europe. There was then a bit of a show and tell with some recent Crossbill chewed Scot’s Pine cones shown and a few twigs of Scot’s Pine showing the different cohorts of cones present typically at this time of year on this species of tree.
After this we explored the west side of the loch, a pair of Crested Tits were seen immediately as we left the carpark. We walked along the Crossbill-less forestry track to Loch nan Geadas where a fine pair of Goosander greeted us, along with a Grey Heron and a few Mallards. A Buzzard drifted across the clearfell area.
As we returned back to the junction of the path leading east we had a brief flyover of several crossbills a pair and a single, unfortunately each one coincided with a vehicle passing on the busy track and no recordings were possible!. Heading east we found another pair of Crested Tits amongst a small tit flock. As we met the main Loch Morlich circuit path we heard crossbills nearby with a male singing loudly from pines nearby. As we got closer the singing reduced in volume and we discovered a female feeding quietly in the canopy with an orange male nearby. They fed for several minutes eventually showing well in the pines in front of us, the male as well as singing gave several bursts of flight calls from the tree before they flew a short distance. These calls were analysed and came out as N20 Scottish Crossbill calls.
We headed back towards the carpark, with distant crossbill calls heard on the track on the return leg and Bullfinches. We then decided to move on to the next location at Allt Mor in Glenmore. Somewhat incredibly on arrival at the carpark two Crossbills flew over immediately, seemingly landing nearby, we scrambled together and went searching eventually finding the male singing from the top of a tree across the road, and professionally photographed by Danny. Before everyone got on it, it flew past giving flight calls, which again looked like Scottish Crossbills on the sonogram but the recording wasn’t good enough due to road noise and it had to be left unidentified.
We then completed a loop heading towards An Lochan Uaine before retuning through Glenmore and heading back to the carpark. All very quiet in this area with no crossbills heard at all. On arrival back to the carpark we had food and a chat. After this Adam, Carol and others decided to go and check the top carpark at Cairngorm and had approximately 30 Snow Buntings up there.
Peter Stronach
After this we explored the west side of the loch, a pair of Crested Tits were seen immediately as we left the carpark. We walked along the Crossbill-less forestry track to Loch nan Geadas where a fine pair of Goosander greeted us, along with a Grey Heron and a few Mallards. A Buzzard drifted across the clearfell area.
As we returned back to the junction of the path leading east we had a brief flyover of several crossbills a pair and a single, unfortunately each one coincided with a vehicle passing on the busy track and no recordings were possible!. Heading east we found another pair of Crested Tits amongst a small tit flock. As we met the main Loch Morlich circuit path we heard crossbills nearby with a male singing loudly from pines nearby. As we got closer the singing reduced in volume and we discovered a female feeding quietly in the canopy with an orange male nearby. They fed for several minutes eventually showing well in the pines in front of us, the male as well as singing gave several bursts of flight calls from the tree before they flew a short distance. These calls were analysed and came out as N20 Scottish Crossbill calls.
We headed back towards the carpark, with distant crossbill calls heard on the track on the return leg and Bullfinches. We then decided to move on to the next location at Allt Mor in Glenmore. Somewhat incredibly on arrival at the carpark two Crossbills flew over immediately, seemingly landing nearby, we scrambled together and went searching eventually finding the male singing from the top of a tree across the road, and professionally photographed by Danny. Before everyone got on it, it flew past giving flight calls, which again looked like Scottish Crossbills on the sonogram but the recording wasn’t good enough due to road noise and it had to be left unidentified.
We then completed a loop heading towards An Lochan Uaine before retuning through Glenmore and heading back to the carpark. All very quiet in this area with no crossbills heard at all. On arrival back to the carpark we had food and a chat. After this Adam, Carol and others decided to go and check the top carpark at Cairngorm and had approximately 30 Snow Buntings up there.
Peter Stronach
Peter Stronach with parabolic sound dish listening for crossbills with our group (Mary Galloway)
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