Teesmouth Bird Club

Can anybody let me know roughly where to go in Tilery wood / A689 to see the crossbills? I've been 3 times now and seen chaffinches and a siskin. Many thanks

There's no one spot for them unfortunately. They're very active birds. I see them maybe one in ten visits though both times on my last two visits. Apart from feeding there's been plenty of displaying going on both with them and the Siskins. Even when they land to feed on cones it's usually only for a few minutes. I've seen them all over the wood favouring no one particular area. Usually I just wander around the footpaths listening for the calls else the sound of cones knocking against branches as the Crossbills drop them. Alternatively just standing/sitting in one place you see them as well as they're constantly on the move but it's pot luck whether they land close to where you are. I was sat 40 minutes on my last visit before any appeared.

Sometimes they've been in the trees above the car park but usually I just park and the follow the circular path to the scout hut and then south and east to where it joins the walkway and back north to the A689. The footpath at Plantations/Wynyard Woods in Wynyard estate has been a good place for them over the last 6-7 weeks as well. They've also been seen along the walkway south towards Thorpe Thewles and north towards Hurworth Burn.

I don't know whether they'll be around for much longer. From what I've heard numbers seem to be reducing now. They may stay to breed but I suspect they maybe on the move heading back to breeding grounds.

Cheers Ian - I'll have another look tomorrow.