[Closed] Waxwings

Most delightful.
Did you have to look them up to know they were waxwings? If not, I'm very impressed.

Lovely.
We had bramblings in our garden for the first time. Birds are going mad for the food, as it's been so cold.

Nice! There's been an influx of these into the UK due to a poor fruit year in Scandinavia. Lovely little birds...

Dez, anyone who knows a bit about birds would recognise a Waxwing. There is no other bird in the British Isles that looks anything like them, they're unique. Redthunder's photos can't show their colouring to its full advantage, because he's had to shoot against a flat grey sky, but in good light they're beautiful soft pinky grey, with the bright waxy blobs on the wings which give them their name. Absolutely stunning birds, and a real delight to have arrive in your garden.
I hope they'll be around North Wilts sometime soon, but it depends on the supply of berries.
I'm more than a little jealous that redthunder's actually seen some already!

Ah, these are the ones I saw this morning! Wondered what they were, Sheffield towards Chapeltown. Sounded like a talkative bunch.
Poor fruit in Scandinavia too? What a horrible year.

Unleash the cats 😆

Not Waxwings but I saw a huge heron being attacked by a flock of Parakeets this week..... in London!!!

I've seen both Herons and Parakeets in London before but the sight of about 20 Parakeets chasing a Heron above our heads was quite something.

waxwings were in lincoln on Monday midday sat in tree near the town centre. i dont think they are that common round here. if there is a shortage of fruit in scandinavia that may well explain it.

i remember seeing some in about 91/92, a group of guys with cameras trying to get pics.
i asked one of them why, and he told me they were a rare breed to see in the uk, and to have a good look as i may not see them again in my lifetime.
i told an old boy (in his 70s) across the road about them, and he'd had a similar experience when he was a young man, with a twitcher telling him almost word for word what id been told.
he never saw any again.
ive seen them once more (2005/6).
a beatiful bird, and as said above instantly recognisable when youve seen them once.

@martymac

I didn't see any last year 🙁

The birds above are not quite in my patch, just outside 🙁 But with now have a Spitting Image Falklands exclusion zone a in place 😉

Why they like Avonmouth who knows. Just outside there is million of berries ?

Check out the main player in my patch:

http://www.severnsidebirds.co.uk/

** Check out the Snow Buntings on the beach 🙂

In Oxford this week.
Blackbirds have already stripped the rowan in our front garden so we won't be having a repeat of 2 or 3 years ago. Spent an afternoon photographing them from our upstairs window. Delightful birds.

None yet on my patch, but did see a lesser redpoll with was pleasant to see.
Hope to get over to see the short eared owls a fair bit this winter at the local reserve.

Hey Sharki

Isnt it time for one of your wildlife updates 🙂 Ive not seen any for a while, I always look forward to them.

Isnt it time for one of your wildlife updates Ive not seen any for a while, I always look forward to them.

It has been ages.

What did I last Witter on about?

It must of been mid butterfly season as I'd of been doing various surveys of them

Its been a wonderful year so far for wildlife spotting.
A week on Orkney getting close to puffins, razor bills and closer than recommended to the mighty great skua, was really an epic adventure.
Back in Somerset it really did seem to be all about butterflies and moths.
As summer ended it was time to go deer watching, hoping for a glimpse of rutting red deer. Lots of posturing and bellowing big males, but no fighting. Still as ever a sight and sound to enjoy.

I came out of the apple barn after a days pressing and bottling fresh juice and was rewarded with a male Osprey over head, I'm lucky to have a reservoir next door so there's always a chance to see some wildlife there.

A barn owl flew out and past me in the summer one midst which was a treat and last weekend a weasel was noted to be the guilty invader to the chicken run. Lovely to see though.
Still not seen the badgers that have been using a old shed as a latrine and again no sight of the otters that frequently leave spraint under the bridge on a ledge.
But that's all for future experiences.

When I feel like it, I'll try and give a fuller descript blog with photos on one of this years experiences, bit that will have to wait as the laptop is presently not usable.

As I type this, there's a wood mouse sat on my indoor wood pile, nice to see it about and not in my box of oat so simple.

I'll wake tomorrow to the sound of chattering field fare enjoying the remaining apples I left in the trees.
And if it warms up the bee's can nip out to top up their winter honey stores.

I'll be up in the hills tomorrow with bins and the camera.
Who knows what will pop into view, I do know it'll always be a treat no matter how small it may be.

Wow! What gorgeous birds and well done for getting those pics. 🙂

Makes a change from tractors eh? 😉

Been sighted just up the road here in FoD too. Perhaps surprisingly, a good place to see them is supermarket car parks / industrial estates / type of places where berry bearing shrubs are planted.

Usually a sure sign of a cold snap + snow when waxwings visit 8)

Sharki, if you're ever passing through the Forest of Dean you'll have to stop by our little corner of the natural world

I certainly will.
I've already been out for a bit, all quiet in the orchard but the skies and res are waking up.
Lovely morning mist rising from the water, great crested grebe was out looking for breakfast, and the tuftys are looking lively.
Thought I heard the weasel early this morn but couldn't see it about.
The mew of a low flying buzzard and then the rush of air through feathers as a bunch of c60 starlings headed off for a days fun.

Looks to be a bright and glorious day here.
Bacon and eggs have gone down, flask is filled and I'm good to go.
Now where's these waxwings everyone seems to have....