Waxwings are (almost) everywhere

[Donnywolf]

Fresh from the Bar Tailed Godwit flying a seemingly impossible distance a few people on here led me to believe there is some interest in Birds etc


Well this year , much nearer to home Waxwings are pouring in in what the experts say is an "irruption". They must sense a bad winter in their usual haunts or lack of berries or possibly both and come over here to gorge on our berries


Gorge is the right word and I remember seeing them about 10 years ago when I had no Camera on phone (last irruption 2013). Walking through wood in Thorne and thought " wow look at them" and there were about 12 stripping a tree of it's berries. I moved closer but knew what they were as they are so striking and got so close I swear I could have picked one off the tree and 11 of them would not have noticed let alone stopped


It was miles back home for a Camera and so I didn't go back till early next day and of course they had gone. So google Waxwing to see how pretty they are if you don't know and watch anywhere that has berries going begging. Supermarket Car Parks are often targeted as they are planted with loads of Berry bearers and they often go there


Facebook has a Waxwing sightings" Group so you can get alerts immediately . Nearest I know of WAS a Park in Goldthorpe but I am hoping they pop up nearer to me.Camera is ready

[tommy toes]

Beautiful birds wolfie I'll look out for em.
Now stop distracting me from the Wales game.

[SydneyRover]

Lovely birds, just had some photos of snow in Stockholm so maybe from scandiland

[Donnywolf]

Deal lol 

[Donnywolf]

https://m.facebook.com/groups/214355264013107/?paipv=0&eav=AfakwCRTqINZNXCvw-Pm7_LHUbIBlVf_za9JImwvZ37nQ48rsyeCzt2Ez2-Xem39ahU


Have a look at Video from Shetland sightings ...

[Donnywolf]

Lovely birds, just had some photos of snow in Stockholm so maybe from scandiland

Yes I guessed Scandinavia and also I read Russia

I guessed at why they come every so often and speculated " shortage of berries" .Turned out to be right but for wrong reason. Berry shortage caused by a massive number of Waxwings in a given year , so lots of them cross North Sea in search of richer pickings

Lots in Shetland East Coast of Scotland Sunderland Scarborough but they will go wherever (like Thorne and Goldthorpe)

[mugnapper]

I worked in a Supermarket and came out after a 12 hour shift to find my car COVERED in Waxwing sh1t.
They apparently love the red berries on the shrubbery that supermarkets use in their car parks.
I took the car to the car wash but that basically just smeared it.
Hadvto go home and clean it using elbow grease. It took ages.
I have never parked under a tree again lol