Very rare visitors during periodic irruptions.

Crossbills are birds of coniferous woods and forests. There are occasional, “irruptions” of the species when flocks of birds from the continent reach Britain.

Prior to the winter of 2020/21 (an “irruption” year) there were only four records for Stevenage: one was reported from Stevenage during the “irruption” year of 1909; a pair were, “obtained” near Stevenage on 29 January 1910; six seen in Grace Way on 2 August 1990. (1990 was the best year for Crossbills in Hertfordshire since the “irruption” of 1962); seven were seen flying over Stevenage on 30 October 2012.

During the 2020/21 winter five were seen at Fairlands Valley Lakes on 26 October 2020, three males and four females at Derby Way on 5 December 2020 and between 28 January and 1 February 2021 up to nine were seen at Ashtree Wood.