Rob Jones, Darren Coombs and me did a preliminary search for Great Grey Shrike at Mynydd Marchywel, today, ahead of the GOS field trip planned for Sunday. Around late morning Rob got a brief view of a Crossbill sp sitting on a Sitka Spruce with 3 or more Common Crossbills. Rob described the bird he saw as having bold white wing bars. However, he did not notice any white tips to the tertials on the bird before it flew. Neither Darren or I got views of the bird before it flew and it's flight took it directly away from us. None of us heard it's diagnostic call.
A further search of the area until dusk brought no further sign of the bird. Small groups of Common Crossbills were seen intermittently through the rest of the day in groups of 8, 5, 3, 3 & 2 plus some heard only birds. There is an area of Scott's Pine next to the forestry track at SN773044 and an area of Larch 1km SW of it. Birds seemed to be commuting between the 2 areas.
This area is a bit of a hike but can be accessed via forestry tracks that join onto St Illtyd's Walk. The St Illtyd's Walk can be picked up just west of Crynant (SN78890455).
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