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Will 2010 be a Waxwing year in UK?02/11/2010 11:53:47
Will this winter be a waxwing year? Photo credit Richard Revels (rspb-images.com). November 2011. Nature lovers are waiting to see whether recent sightings of waxwings will turn into an influx this winter. The striking birds flood to the UK from Scandinavia every few winters but in between you would be lucky to see one at all. But in the coming weeks, you could see them much closer to home in places like supermarket car parks, shopping centres, local parks and RSPB nature reserves. Bold birds with bold colouring Waxwings are bold birds which don't mind feeding close to humans and the RSPB is hoping that seeing the unusual birds will move people to help other migrant birds that may visit their gardens this winter and have a tough time in the cold weather. Berry feeders In recent days a handful of reported waxwing sightings have already come from around the UK, including Shetland, Orkney, Cambridgeshire, Edinburgh and Lincolnshire. Don't breed in UK Growing numbers of reportsWith the first snow and frost of the autumn in some parts of the country this week, it certainly felt like winter for many people. Perhaps a taste of things to come, the wintry weather was accompanied by the biggest arrival in years of Waxwing. Following a few reports along the coast of East Anglia last week, birds flooded in on Sunday and Monday. On those two days alone, over 2,700 birds were reported in Scotland, with many smaller flocks along the English east coast. The biggest flocks were reported on Tuesday, with 480 in Pitlochry and 320 in Aberfeldy Poor berry crop in Scandinavia Experts believe that there has been a poor berry crop in the Scandinavian countries they originate from so far this year. 2008 was a fairly good waxwing winter, but the last major influx was in the winter of 04/05. Ian Hayward, RSPB Wildlife Adviser, says: "Waxwings are really unusual, beautiful birds, and we are getting lots of calls from people asking what the strange bird with the funny crest on its head is. They are all over the place at the moment, which suggests a bumper year for waxwings. This will be a treat for everyone as they are easy to see, sometimes in large flocks in excess of 300 birds. We hope that in seeing these amazing birds, people will be moved to help other migrant birds that will need their help in their gardens. Redwings and Fieldfares "The reason these birds come to the UK is because they can't find enough food at home, and as the weather worsens, it will become tricky to find it here too. We can make all the difference by putting out extra food and holding back on cutting hedges with a few last berries still on them." RSPB Director of Conservation Mark Avery says: "Waxwings only visit the UK very erratically and every winter we wait expectantly to see if this will be the year. "At the moment we are wondering if it will be a flood or a trickle, but the reported sightings certainly suggest that we could be in for a treat this winter and we hope it will inspire everyone to do their bit for all wildlife as it starts to get really cold."
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Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment
I've just seen about 25 waxwings sitting in a sycamore tree in a neighbour's garden. What a treat - they look so exotic and I knew what they were instantly even though I'd never seen one before. Fantastic!
Posted by: Di Sword | 28 Mar 2011 16:57:09
I've had a waxwing visiting my garden in Lutterworth drinking water from a water feature daily.
Posted by: A Ball | 25 Mar 2011 16:59:31
I've had a waxwing visiting my garden in Lutterworth drinking water from a water feature daily.
Posted by: A Ball | 25 Mar 2011 16:59:09
I saw a small flock of 15 -20 settle on a roadside tree for about 2 minutes, they then took to the sky again. A wonderful experience to see such colourful birds.
Posted by: John Dingley | 15 Mar 2011 10:26:33
16 waxwings in our farmyard SK11 today. First time we had seen (and heard) them. Will they be leaving UK again soon?
Posted by: Heather Self | 13 Mar 2011 22:54:20
spotted around 30 waxwings feeding in an overgrown privit hedge yesterday afternoon, and again today. very pretty.
Posted by: robert musson | 30 Jan 2011 19:54:56
Since Tuesday, 25th January I have had a flock of around 50 waxwings feeding on an ornamental cherry in the garden of the flats I live in. They have stripped the top part of the tree and now, when the fly in, they are on the middle and lower branches.
It is extremely unusual to see any birds on this tree as magpies and wood pigeons nest in the fir right next to it.
Posted by: sue booth | 27 Jan 2011 09:13:23
Flock of Wawings in Tesco Extra Whitstable car park this morning
Posted by: Paul Butler | 20 Jan 2011 11:39:07
This morning I saw approximately 20 waxwings on a bush covered in red berries which overhangs my back garden. They made several visits over a period of half an hour.
Posted by: Michael Bowden | 12 Jan 2011 18:52:14
I live in Kirkby In Ashfield, Nottinghamshire (post code NG17) and I was in the garden this morning refilling the bird feeders and heard a familiar beautiful "trilling" sound - I looked up and spotted 4 Waxwings in the tree! I also saw a small flock of them around the 14th December last year (2009) on my neighbour's tv aerial - I hope they come back so that I can get a photo! They're beautiful!
Posted by: Nicki Hill | 23 Dec 2010 11:52:36
There was a pair of waxwings in my back garden this morning, perhaps drawn by the rowan and cotoneaster berries. Very exciting!
Posted by: jo c | 20 Dec 2010 12:24:26
Saw a pair of waxwing in the Rowan tree in our friont garden on Thursday 16th December 2010
Never seen Waxing in Lutterworth Leicestershire before
Is the sign of an invasion
Posted by: Paul D Williams | 18 Dec 2010 15:16:16
I saw 10-12 waxwings on Rowan Trees at my sons school. Very noisy and striking to observe.
Posted by: Sue Hardy | 12 Dec 2010 21:21:06
saw a pair of waxwings perched on top of a walnut tree in my backgarden this morning, got very excited, am now waiting for more to arrive but it is getting late so will return tomorrow.
Posted by: chris thompson | 12 Dec 2010 15:39:07
Saw about 50 waxwings sitting in my Rowan tree in Ballyclare. I was amazed at the sight, I never thought I would ever see Waxwings in NI.
Posted by: Katie H | 09 Dec 2010 17:41:43
I saw a small flock of eight waxwings in an alotment in Beckenham ths afternoon. They were not alarmed by my presence and were enjoying some berries from the trees. Some starlings were also nesting nearby and each appeared tolerant of the other.
Posted by: john d | 25 Nov 2010 18:13:43
I saw between 60 and 100 this morning near central Sheffield. I would have thought that to be a large sighting?
Posted by: Rich Ward | 24 Nov 2010 22:59:52