Waxwings anybody? (1 Viewer)

[Marmot]

Just what constitutes massive numbers? I agree the 100+ flocks haven't hit England yet, but they have hit Scotland and crossed the Irish sea.

It's all relative, but it feels like there are a big number here already.

Plenty around our area in the past few days, Ian [other half] saw a flock of around 200 stripping the trees not too far away from us.

Here is a photo he put in the gallery of some that could not get in the trees and were having to wait there turn on the TV ariels.

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/224223/limit/recent

 

[halftwo]

Manchester and Cheshire have a few - including one near my house in Lymm today.

 

[s. james]

Bit late for this but two weekends ago I was away in England. When I got home my dad said there were some funny birds outside the house yesterday and he'd got a photo. Turns out they were waxwings!

Never seen them before! Why'd they have to pick the weekend I was away?!

Did see my first carrion crow though while walking down a street in Bournemouth. (Not quite as good as waxwings but still a "tick")

 

[Barred Wobbler]

An Aberdeen colour ringed bird was at Alnwick Northumberland midweek with 8 other birds.
Info from Barred Wobbler, Northumberland thread.

The same bird was reported from Douglas, Isle of Man on 6th December.

 

[Capercaillie71]

The same bird was reported from Douglas, Isle of Man on 6th December.

Updates on this and other resightings of colour ringed birds here:

http://www.wildlifeweb.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=335

 

[luke]

Reasonable numbers are starting to turn further south, 10 in Hereford today. Next stop Gwent!

 

[Mark Grantham]

One of Raymond's Aberdeen birds has been seen in Suffolk, so the move south is definitely progressing. This is only the second east coast sighting, with the first realising the error of its ways and prmomptly heading west again!

Mark Grantham
BTO Ringing Scheme

 

[alcedo.atthis]

"One of Raymond's Aberdeen birds has been seen in Suffolk, so the move south is definitely progressing. This is only the second east coast sighting, with the first realising the error of its ways and prmomptly heading west again!"

There are still one or two straglers up here. The local Sprawk had a go at a couple on the cotoneaster in front of the house on Friday, but ended up with a Starrie instead.

Regards

Malky

 

[Songkhran]

just some thoughts on waxwings. In early November there was a medium arrival in North Norfolk, the best count being 30 odd in Kelling/Salthouse area, what seemed odd about this arrival was that the birds found a few very suitable berry trees but only stripped the top layer of berries and soon moved on leaving an almost full crop of berries still left on the tree, strikes me strange why newly arrived, tired birds would be so picky. Although the branches are quite low hanging i still can't see how the birds would be vulnerable to predation.

currently an extremely small trickle moving west along the north norfolk coast, regularly being reported at Titchwell and 1's and 2's over Sheringham in the last week.

nothing like that high pitched trill then seeing one careering over.

 

[griffin]

what seemed odd about this arrival was that the birds found a few very suitable berry trees but only stripped the top layer of berries and soon moved on leaving an almost full crop of berries still left on the tree, strikes me strange why newly arrived, tired birds would be so picky.

I am fortunate to have spent some time trying to catch waxwings with Raymond Duncan and he says that they prefer the small berries, the larger ones being much harder to swallow. That would perhaps explain this behaviour.

Really fascinating birds and the best birds I have ringed ( next to crossbills that is !)

Lindsay

 

[Bish]

4 here today in North East Essex ||

 

[Neil-T]

14 here today in Basford park road Stoke on Trent.

 

[griffin]

Great stuff folks !

Keep checking those photos as well as birds in the field for colour-rings. We are currently getting 3-4 reports per week which is fantastic so many thanks to all who are looking and who have submitted sightings. You are an important part of something quite special !

Cheers,

Lindsay

 

[Cudyll Bach]

There was a solitary bird in Bridgend, South Wales for two days last week.

 

[rockfowl]

nothing like that high pitched trill then seeing one careering over.

Absolutely, once heard never forgotten...At least 12 in Leicester City Centre last couple of days, very difficult to see enough to ascertain if they're ringed or not, haven't seen their legs so far!

 

[sparroweye]

I have only had the joyful experience of seeing flocks of these beautiful cedar waxwings once in Florida during the winter. About twenty descended on my mulberry fruit tree in mid March or Feb. I have never seen them since.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

The same bird was reported from Douglas, Isle of Man on 6th December.

I've just had an email update on this waxwing. Aberdeen 9th November, Alnwick 26th November, Isle of Man 6th December and then it turned up in South Nottinghamshire on 16th December.

A true wanderer.

 

[David S.]

Heard a rumour of a small flock of waxwings being seen in a residential garden in Caterham, Surrey yesterday. Anyone here heard more or able to verify if they are still about? (Also posted this on the 'Your Local Patch: Surrey' thread.)

Cheers,

David

 

[stevo]

I saw my 1st of the year yesterday c30-40 in a highly mobile flock in Southampton.

Steve.

 

[bedfontbirder]

Heard a rumour of a small flock of waxwings being seen in a residential garden in Caterham, Surrey yesterday. Anyone here heard more or able to verify if they are still about? (Also posted this on the 'Your Local Patch: Surrey' thread.)

Cheers,

David

There are 23 birds in two flocks in back gardens in Station Road near Upper Warlingham station today.

Cheers,

Adam