Waxwings are here...

[greg.siddons]

...well at least there has been a couple of sightings of single birds in the Leicester area over the past few days. One was just round the corner from where I work today, however, it wasn't spotted by me :-(

Anyone else seen Waxwings this winter?

I wonder if we'll get a repeat of last year's irruption.

Greg

[Helen]

Ah yes, it's that time of the year again....

[greg.siddons]

Originally Posted by Helen

Ah yes, it's that time of the year again....

Do you get them in your neck of the woods Helen?

I was blessed by seeing 62 in a single tree last Jan very close to the centre of Leicester. Then I saw half a dozen or so later on, around April, in the National Forest nr Coalville. They are fantastically beautiful. They don't make a nice sound however!

Greg

PS. Love your new avatar - brill Red Kite (of course!)

[Helen]

I've not seen them around here, although there are reports of them in Berks/Oxon/Bucks. I saw loads of them in January down in Kent.

Thanks for the comment re the avatar

[Fourwings]

Sounds good to me, being a Leicestershire resident thats currently off work recovering from back surgery catching up with a waxwing or two whilst armed with my cameras would be the perfect re-habilitation.

[greg.siddons]

I'm sure a little gentle birding will help you no end! Best of luck Fourwings with your recovery. Sounds grim.

If you are up and about, get down to the Cavendish Rd/Saffron Lane/New Park Rd area. I might try and sneak off work today (for half an hour...) to try my luck. If you see a dirty Landrover, that'll be me!

Greg

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by greg.siddons

I'm sure a little gentle birding will help you no end! Best of luck Fourwings with your recovery. Sounds grim.Greg

Thanks Greg, its not too bad really, I've had repair jobs done to my back on & off for the last 12 years or so.
I've not tried driving yet, but it won't be long especially if there are Waxwings about, the last flock I saw was in Melton back in January 2001, got really close to them, less than 20 feet & got some great video footage, unfortunately at the time I made the mistake of trying to photograph them with a borrowed 800mm telephoto lens, something I've regretted to this day lets just say the results were less than pleasing - you live n' learn I guess

[greg.siddons]

I have seen a single Waxwing this morning at 9:25 amongst 1 of 2 berried trees on Saffron Hill Road (off Cavendish Road). I wasn't quick enough with my camera :-(

I have since been back twice(!) and no sign.

I've made many, many photography mistakes, so I know what you mean! Not being quick enough this morning was one of them!!!

Greg

[nightshade]

Never seen one in the flesh but there was a large flock near me two winters running

[Tursiops]

Last New Year's Day, I woke up to find a flock of about 50 Waxwings (my first ever) had descended on a street tree, an ornamental Sorbus with bright orange berries, just outside my house. They visited off and on for a week, until the tree was stripped clean. It doesn't look like there'll be a repeat this year, as there isn't a single berry on the tree. Odd, that.
T