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Waxwings (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Himalaya
- Start date
jogresh
Bimble and patch
Good question, was wondering that. At the mo the sightings seem to be mainly due to the strong easterlies-south easterlies of the last few days so perhaps it'll peter out as it does some years. Saw some on Scilly one October but it didn't come to much. However i haven't seen a Waxwing for quite a while so it'd be great if it was a Waxwing winter! I wonder what is the state of the Rowan crop in Fenno-Scandia and NW Russia.. 🤔🤷♂️🤞
I don't think Waxwing arrivals are all that weather dependent, or at least that's not the reason they're moving. It's very unusual to have such widespread records and high counts in mid-October, even in big invasion years. I suspect we will get a lot in a few weeks. I wonder what they will do when they get here. In Aberdeen, there isn't a particularly good rowan crop (normally their staple) and so I don't expect them to stay that long. Suspect they will be on the move for much of the winter, with maybe much bigger numbers than normal further south.
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Works for me... it seems a long time since we've had a big invasion down here!
John
I’m hoping it will be a good winter for Waxwings I only saw them the once last year.
dantheman
Bah humbug
Or conversely - if you have bins with you they won't turn up in your area, so don't take them ... ;-)
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Winter of 2016/2017 was last proper invasion year.
I saw 1 in Bolton, once back in late winter this year.
Today went on a Waxwing quest today went to Dalmany Street Park where they had been spotted sadly I didn’t see them but heard they came back not long after I left very frustrating so I will try again tomorrow morning because the trees have plenty of berries on them.
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Once you recognize the trilling sound, that's the easiest way to find them, it's very unique.
Also they bob up & down in flight similar to American Goldfinch. In flight they look like slightly larger goldfinch - often flying in small groups like the goldfinches too. One of my favorite birds. Here in the USA you can buy a shadbush plant and they will show up like clockwork, they can't resist, it's their favorite food. If you have one, they WILL show up, I wonder if you can buy shadbush in Europe?
Also they bob up & down in flight similar to American Goldfinch. In flight they look like slightly larger goldfinch - often flying in small groups like the goldfinches too. One of my favorite birds. Here in the USA you can buy a shadbush plant and they will show up like clockwork, they can't resist, it's their favorite food. If you have one, they WILL show up, I wonder if you can buy shadbush in Europe?
Saw 5 Waxwings at a park called Montgomery Street Park today. I heard 200 had been spotted there so thought I’d have a look when I arrived I didn’t see see them but after waiting 10 mins 5 appeared and it was great to see them.
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A Question. Hi, First excuse my lack of knowledge on the subject.
Here where I like near Huddersfield, I thought after seeing some wonderful photo's of bohemian waxwings, I'd like to try get a few photo's myself. Thinking was the easy bit eh lol. Find the places they feed, yes seen the photo's know the tree types, then you have to find them, ahh plenty around near me, just no birds whenever I go looking this week. These birds are not easy to find are they?
Then when all the berries have more or less gone, then where do you look? It's a wonderful thing doing all the bird things, but it can be very frustrating, especially at my age lol (67). Now I'm sure I will be put on the right track so to speak, in one way or another. Over to you guys , many thanks.
Rob
Here where I like near Huddersfield, I thought after seeing some wonderful photo's of bohemian waxwings, I'd like to try get a few photo's myself. Thinking was the easy bit eh lol. Find the places they feed, yes seen the photo's know the tree types, then you have to find them, ahh plenty around near me, just no birds whenever I go looking this week. These birds are not easy to find are they?
Then when all the berries have more or less gone, then where do you look? It's a wonderful thing doing all the bird things, but it can be very frustrating, especially at my age lol (67). Now I'm sure I will be put on the right track so to speak, in one way or another. Over to you guys , many thanks.
Rob
Stonefaction
Dundee Birding....(target 150 in 2024).
Rob, they can turn up almost anywhere. Any flock of birds at the very tops of tall trees are worth checking out, as they will perch there for a while at times until they decide that it is safe to fly down to a suitable tree/bush to feed en masse. In flight, they can appear very similar to Starlings with rather triangular shaped wings. They do usually call in flight (which helps) but not always. You might also come across a lone bird (or 2) perched in the top of a tree, or if mild temperatures, the birds may indulge in some flycatching - flying out to grab and insect before landing again. I've found lots of flocks and a few lone birds here in Dundee this winter using these tips. Hope you find some.
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Keep checking regularly. I checked an area early morning and there wasn't even a Thrush and after 30 minutes the same spot was checked again and a flock of 4 appeared which then increased to 11.
I had a flock of about 40 at a local park on the 10th of December 2016 around a cotoneaster tree. They may have stayed a few hours and then reappeared on the 31st of March 2017 for not too long. Random and unpredicatble. The firts sighting of the Waxwing season for our local borough and the last during that particular winter influx.
They are late compared to the 2016 influx for turning up at Blackburn and Barrow in Lancashire which seem to be good regular spots.
