Crossbills are a nomadic group of birds, Sometimes they are difficult to find, sometimes they are all over you. A good number of Parrot Crossbills were in the Brecks when on tour the other week. A few individuals were coming down to puddles of water to drink. If you were quiet and still they would come close.
Just look at the snout on these!
It took me three visits to finally connect with the Parrot Crossbills at Holt. I ended up seeing a flock of ten or perhaps more. At least three males and the rest female types; some showing a strong covert bar indicating they were first winters. Even when they are there they can be amazingly elusive as they employ their ‘make like a pine cone’ hiding strategy. Almost silently they walk and hop around in the top of the pines and larches not making a sound other than the occasional crash of cones released to tumble down through the canopy.
Letter From Norfolk 