LOCH GARTEN - END FEBRUARY 2024

LG Cams are down.

scylla said:

I'm off for a long break

Well I was, but then when the cams went down I thought I should do a catchup until that time...

I'm sure one of us was anxious to see Greenfinches - I'm hoping this is one, even tho it's not green ;)

EDIT - I hope it's healthy, maybe a youngster?

EDIT 2 - See the cruel corrections below - the even awfuller thing is that they're correct corrections - this isn't the first time I've failed on Crossbills cos I can't see the bills.  Title amended.

scylla said:

I'm sure one of us was anxious to see Greenfinches - I'm hoping this is one, even tho it's not green ;)

I think this is a crossbill, a rare capture indeed!?? Anyone else agree?

I'm pretty sure that's not a greenfinch.

I am with you on this one Korky, I copied the following.

The crossbill’s distinctive feature is its thick, powerful beak that crosses at the tips. Males have a bright red head, while females are a yellowish-green with hints of grey. Males have bright red plumage, whereas females are a yellowish-green. Common crossbills are heavy-set birds, weighing roughly twice as much as a robin.


Not to be confused with: the Scottish crossbill and parrot crossbill. These species are very difficult to tell apart by sight alone, but the Scottish crossbill is only found in northern Scotland. It is the UK’s only endemic bird species, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world. The parrot crossbill is very rare in the UK, with only a handful of breeding pairs in Scotland and occasional visitors from Europe.

So could we stick our collective necks out and say it's a Scottish crossbill?
This from Forestry and Land Scotland;

'Where might you see Scottish Crossbills? There are crossbills in the pinewoods and conifer forests of Sutherland, Moray, Banff and down into lower Deeside. You probably won't know if you've seen a Scottish crossbill unless you are very expert at identification or can record their calls – all three species look alike and a sonogram is the only reliable way to tell them apart.'

Unknown said:

I think this is a crossbill, a rare capture indeed

It's very kind of you to put it that way, KORKY - but we had them on the nest a lot at the start of the season, and (1) I'd forgotten all about them, (2) I can't see the bills.

(I'm supposed to be making arrangements for Specsavers to call round )

  Same here  my close vision changes day to day hence onscreen keyboard

     Scylla,  not much fun Learning to use what I have at hand good luck,

It's a female Crossbill, the curved beak can be seen quite clearly

Female Crossbill