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Psilos Bird Photography |
Woodley Waxwings |
With the ending of summer and the shortening
of days everyone looks to the skies in anticipation for one of natures
real gems. Migrating down from the arctic north the Waxwing heads for
warmer climes where food is much more plentiful. First sightings are
listened out for in excitement and speculation grows as to whether this
winter will bring in hugh influxes like the year before. This was to
be the first winter that I had a decent camera with which to photograph
them so like everyone else I was keeping a keen eye open for any sightings
in my area. |
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Christmas came and four waxwings came and
stayed for a couple of weeks in the trees at Asda, about half a mile
from my home. I then spent two frustrating weeks trying to get some
good photographs. Sadly though the site was poor and was always in deep
shade so I needed somewhere brighter to do them justice. Four weeks
I had to wait and reports came in of thirty waxwings in Woodley Shopping
Precinct, Stockport. That wasnt so very far away so I was quickly on
their trail.... |
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Woodley was an area unknown to me but upon
arrival it wasnt difficult to decide where the birds could be found.
Looming large and heavy with berries were two enormous trees in the
verycentre of the shopping precinct and that was the very place where
I was heading. |
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and there they were....feeding on the berries
right above the heads of shoppers oblivious to their very presence.
The site was perfect. Two open trees full of berries with plenty
of light and the sun behind you. Waxwings, I have discovered are
creatures of habit. They seem to like keeping the trees they feed
on seperate to the trees they preen and rest in. To this end therefore
these birds for the most part would sit in trees high up on the
other side of the road and when they were feeling hungry, flew across
to feed. All seemed ideal but I didnt see what was lurking in another
tree nearby..... |
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