Saturday, April 04, 2026
I've been distressed on behalf of all the tourists pouring into the area, given that apocalypse now (or Storm Dave) is apparently on the way - so I was pleasantly surprised this morning to open the curtains and see a blue sky, and hardly a breath of wind. We drove south to the Silverbridge/Longart Forest area for the umpteenth time lately, hoping that on this walk we would actually see a crossbill.
We only just managed to squeeze into the crowded car park, and then set off in sunshine - though gloved and hatted! For the third time this year, I was sure I heard a crossbill's quiet "gip" call from the canopy directly above us and in the same area. It was only later, and from a distance, that I finally spotted an orange male feeding in the top of a pine tree (photo much cropped).
Magical to see and hear! Around six o'clock this evening (just as the Met Office predicted), the precipitation began. I call it that because it was so mixed - rain, sometimes a bit of unconvincing snow, then sleet; the garden was soon just soaking wet, but sure enough the high ground was beginning to take on a whitish appearance. But not much wind so far. Anyway, glad the Easter weekend has had one good day.
