Crossbills of the Parrot type

I eventually managed to pluck up the courage today to go searching for one of the many flocks of rare crossbills that had invaded Britain a few weeks ago. It would be at least a 2.5 hour drive down to the Peak District (the closest location) and the birds had not been reported as regularly as I would have liked in the run-up to D-Day; moreover, when I eventually arrived, I remembered that they close the road from the car-park northwards at weekends and I was forced to speed-walk 7km before I even reached the site in question - having paid the extortionate £4.70 car-park fee! Anyway, it was all worth it. Five minutes after I arrived, so did the birds: at least 12 large, chunky Parrot Crossbills (with a small handful of Commons), each with their characteristic bill shape - stubby, rounded, thick and bulky. A wonderful sight!