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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Marcus Conway - ebirder" data-source="post: 1221738" data-attributes="member: 26747">Day four - the search continuesWe again head to the woods, this time starting off near the poo! We again start early and despite an extensive search we find nothing. In fact we have drifted off into the centre of the woods and we are calmly toddling on behind a dog walker when all of a sudden a bird is flushed and James breifly gets onto it. He seems convinded it could be a Caper, but despite further searching we cannot find the bird. It seems likely it is a Caper - what else can it be? James isn't 100%, and although a process of elimination suggests that only a black grouse female in the middle of the woods or a massive pheasant could be the possibilities James does the sensible thing, and decides to leave it in the possibles box - for now anyway.We decide to change tact and we head North to Lochindorb. We have heard that there have been Divers in that area, but the weather is bad and we can only find Common Sandpipers feeding (on the road!). We continue to scan the loch, when James finally gets on to an absolute spanker. Full summer plumage black throated diver. Awesome birds. We decide to continue the positive vain and head back to our cottage for a big fat full breakfast.After that all we can manage is a stroll in the local woods. It turns out to be a touch of good fortune. After only half a mile threre are big roving flocks of crossbills. We immediately get onto Parrots and commons this time at much lower levels and much better light. There are intermediate types (Scottish) all around and the full variety of calls. There are also nasal calls and trilling calls, as well as Chups, Chips, and Chops. There are some real baritone calls almost like a magpie. Flocks of thirty or so birds move in and out, and after a short time we can (with as much confidence as you can) hear and see three distinct calling and size differences. We sit quietly 100 yards on and notice the crossbills are drinking at a nearby pool. We decide to go back and get some cammo gear, some beers and the garden chairs sow e can watch and split the crossers in comfort - <a href="http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1221737#post1221737" target="_blank">see what you think on this link...</a>... further in the wood we find redstart in the courtship display, and yet more crossbills. No crested tits or capers though...So we are set up in full cammo next to the path, slighlty hidden by sme trees. We are watching crossbills at between 10 and 15 feet. At one point a small party are sat about three feet from our face. Even James has to put his beer down and sit still for five minutes. This is immense. Then the flock scatter and two ladies walk past, and unfortuntaley get the shock of their lives when they see two cammoflagued lads hiding in the trees - a big sorry! I hope they saw the funny side.Total buzzard count after day three - ...Total time in Capper habitat - 15.5 hoursTotal Cappers - 0.91</blockquote>

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