Waxwing irruption

First Waxwings of the New Year.
Two of around 11 Waxwings glowering at birders from high perches
There is an ongoing Bohemian Waxwing irruption in the UK with hundreds if not thousands of this most northerly species of bird having headed south in search of food over the last couple of months. Having seen jut four on rowan trees in the Cambridgeshire village of Coton, and then only on a dull day, it was lovely to have a sunny New Year’s Day, so we popped across to another nearby village, Great Shelford.
Zoomed in and cropped Waxwing headshot
We’d seen a flock of about 20 in flight there last last week. But, on New Year’s Day, there were 11 glowering from the tall trees next to the railway station. They were plucking ivy berries from the plants growing on those trees but because there were so many birders, twitchers, and toggers near their favoured rowans, the birds had to choose their moments carefully to fly in and snatch a few berries in very brief bursts of feeding activity.
Waxwing lunging for one of the last rowan berries on the tree
Waxwings posing whimsically as musical notes on a stave, perhaps
Waxwing in flight

Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - January 2, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Birds Source Type: blogs