Psilos Bird Photography

Waxwings of Barrow
October looms and as the leaves fall from the trees our regular winter visitors arrive. Redwings, Fieldfares and Bramblings pour into the country. They make our winter just like the Warblers and Swallows make our summer.There is one winter bird though that is not so predictable. As the cold north easterlies blow all eyes look to the skies and hope that food is scarce in Scandanavia. Only then will we see an influx that hasnt happened now for two years.
 
 
Then in one week near the end of October it started to happen. Sightings of Waxwings started to spring up on the east coast, first in Scotland and then further down towards Norfolk. Numbers were good and we were hopeful. In only a matter of days birds started to move inland. Sightings began with only low numbers of birds in my local area and they were unsettled I would wait for a larger flock to appear.
 
 
Then as I knew they would they appeared in larger numbers. A flock of 30+ settled in Barrow, Lancashire and were giving excellent views. It was a cold grey day in late November when I ventured out. Not expecting great photos but just having the opportunity to see these fabulous birds. The tameness of these birds is something to behold. The Rowan trees which are their favourite food were placed on a busy road by the side of a busstop. Although at times they would be spooked by the sound of a bus or lorry going by they were not troubled by the presence of any of the photographers there that day.
 
 
Waxwings are not the only birds that like Rowan berries. A pair of Mistlethrushes, aggressive and territorial would regularly fly in and attempt to drive the Waxwings away. At times they even turned on themselves as the photo above shows.
 
 
 
The visit on the first day was short. The weather was worsening by the minute and the waxwings, who had plenty of food looked like they were going nowhere. The forecast for the coming week was good so I decided to return in a few days. Luckily I was right and two days later with some blue in the sky I returned.
 
I have watched these birds in several places before and it has become clear that they are creatures of habit. Quickly they stake out likely food sources in an area and will routinely go round them all. This flock contained a good number of birds that regularly split up but they would regularly return to the rowan trees where we were waiting.
 
 
Whilst I have seen many of these birds in hedges and trees I had never seen one on the ground. That day I was treated to not one but two sightings of them on the ground. The first was on the grass eating surplus berries that had fallen and the second was in a carpark when they drank from puddles formed by potholes.
 
 
Waxwings in flight are said to resemble Starlings and often as they fly around they will be in their company. This photo was taken, from some considerable distance, shortly before they went to roost.
 
 
It had been a great day. Long and cold but I had had some wonderful close views of this magical bird. Hopefully I will get to see them again somewhere before the winter is over.