Crossbill

Patterdale Church yard ( The Church of St. Patrick). The view towards Grisedale and the path to the Striding Edge path to Helvellyn

What’s that bird call?
No not the Greenfinches the other one?

Merlin bird ID app said Crossbill what a surprise as we have never seen one in all the years we have visited….. There it was a Male Crossbill sitting at the top of a Pine tree. At least one then!

Good on Merlin. we are educated perhaps we have walked past a Crossbill here in the past. There are plenty of competing bird calls in this church yard House Martins nesting Song Thrushes and Blackbird. Noisy Greenfinches and Chaffinches with House Sparrows nearby.

Also Swifts and Sand Martins overhead as we walk to Side Farm then saw a Sparrowhawk with prey. Some grown up Goosanders on the beck

All under heavy clouds and drizzle but it’s good to be back on familiar territory