Wax wings

sureshot

sureshot

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,116
Name
Nick
Edit My Images
No
Always wanted to get some photos of these whats the best site for sightings
 
"anywhere" - they're supposed to be 'only' down the east of the country, but I think they're seen quite widespread.
They feast on berries, so find a set of trees/bushes with lots of berries on.
You can also follow @waxwingsUK on twitter for sightings.
 
Last edited:
Depends where you are and if they decide to show. I've seen the ones I have photographed in residential areas as well as industrial estates. Normally where there are berries on trees etc for them to feed on. Not heard if any have arrived this year yet tho. Hopefully soon, they are stunners.
 
The numbers crossing the sea in any given year fluctuates massively and there's no guarantee they'll turn up in the same locations. My 'local waxwing patch' is the nearby train station: 2011/12 saw a flock of several hundred, a short stay by a small number the following year, then nothing in subsequent winters. The best bet is to start following local bird clubs, societies and websites.
 
When they start to arrive, watch out for you local supermarket car parks.
 
Some reported in Durham today so they might be on their way. They love Mountain Ash [Rowan] berries which is why industrial parks and supermarkets work so well when they are around but they can turn up in the strangest places - there were three or four in a tiny car park in a busy part of Blackburn a few years ago. When you do find where they are in a good year they can stick to one site for quite a while too.
 
Pitvar said:
Some reported in Durham today so they might be on their way. They love Mountain Ash [Rowan] berries which is why industrial parks and supermarkets work so well when they are around but they can turn up in the strangest places - there were three or four in a tiny car park in a busy part of Blackburn a few years ago. When you do find where they are in a good year they can stick to one site for quite a while too.
Click to expand...
Looking good in Durham at the moment two different areas were they have been sighted, the Blackburn was a place I knew off and got shots of from mid November with no one else around ,its my home town and I just got lucky with a contact who informed me ,no sooner had I posted some the place go a bit busier
 
It varies so much that it's almost impossible to predict.
Tends to be when there are bad/early Winters on their home grounds & their numbers overwhelm the food supply available.

As said above, they arrive on the North & East coast & if in large enough numbers, spread inland.
Rowan seems to be a favourite & if they find berries, they tend to stay until they've eaten them all, which can be quite a few days in one location. There was an irruption 3 or 4 years ago & a couple of dozen stayed for about a week feeding near me, even though they were getting hassled by a hawk.

They're also surprisingly approachable too. (within reason)

Most recent; https://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=124001
 
Last edited:
A waxwing invasion will occur when the berry crop in eastern europe fails, the birds spread west in search of food. We will get a number of flocks every year along the east coast, but in a good invasion year we will see hundreds,if not thousands spreading NE to SW across the country. If you use twitter you can follow @WaxwingsUK for news
 
There have been quite a few reports of them being here at the moment so lets hope we have a good year for them. I'm still hoping to see my first, nevermind getting a photo or 2 of them as well.
 
We get them on the west coast most years, as said, anywhere but mostly in towns, supermarket car parks, Glasgow city centre...you name it, they can appear anywhere
 
Latest report I've heard is from Edinburgh but from the Web only a few around at present. Great to see even in ones and twos but on mass they are quite a sight. His was a shot grabbed almost exactly three years ago when they arrived in Gairloch.

Dave

 
Two years ago there were reports of a flock in a small village in West Sussex. I spent most of the Saturday trying to hunt them down, and failed. The next da yI went for archery practise, about 6 miles from the village. Suddenly I heard that familiar tinkling call. Yup, the Waxies had found me. Nobody else was impressed, particularly Karolina from Poland - who thought they were common as muck.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top