... the slightly longer bill as compared with (Eurasian) Wigeon is apparent here ...
In the 19th century the Leadenhall Market in London was a favourite place to search for vagrant waterfowl and the first British record is from there in the winter of 1837-38 ... since then 200-odd birds have occurred in England ...
... the bird was showing as well as possible with the range of c. 250m being 'close' for this site where high water levels can often mean that birds are very distant ...
... as it swam along with Wigeon the slightly reduced white on the forewing was visible ...
... with the rather longer tail showing here ...
... some shepherding activity caused the flock to fly ...
... but they soon drifted back ...
... and some preening showed the open wing ...
... as it fed the subtly longer neck showed ...
... then quietly mingling with the Wigeon flock ...
With benign weather conditions ... a light breeze and a hint of brightness, Crossbills were feeding on the good crop of cones in the nearby spruce forest ...
... they were always easier to pick up on call than sometimes, with few fly-overs ...
... the calls seemed typical of 'British' Crossbill ...
... and the sonogram confirmed the trace expected of this form ...
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