Waxwing questions

FUDGEY · #1 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 11:29 AM

Do we get them arriving from Scandanavia every Winter or just when they get hard Winters? Also what month do they usually arrive and anyone know what food they like?

Jason Claxton · #2 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 11:45 AM

Hi Fudgey,we do not get Waxwing every year,but the last 3-4 years near to me they have become more frequent,the food they enjoy the most seems to be Rowan and Cotoneaster berries here.

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 11:53 AM

Waxwings do occur every year in the UK, but the numbers can vary considerably. In a lean year small numbers may remain in the north of the UK. In a good irruption year- usually when the berries are depleted further north- then we can get large numbers even in the south.

There has been a 1st-winter Cedar Waxwing in Ireland this week which is a North American species. I remember seeing one of these in Nottingham some years back with several hundred Bohemian (our regular) Waxwings- what a spectacle!