Waxwing Alert

[charlieivan]

I like weather like that. It's the only time my garden looks as good as our neighbours!!!!!

 

[gbb]

Ive never seen a Waxwing, always wanted to, always wondered when ive seen flocks of birds...ooh, maybe, one day.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

[QUOTE 2147060, member: 9609"]I certainly wouldn't be sticking the house on it but it is interesting. It is thought when the weather is very cold in Norway the birds head south in very big numbers.

2000 - 09 seen none and had no winters.
Nov 09 I seen waxwings and we had a winter,
Oct 10 Biggest invasion of Waxwings in living memory and we had an amazing winter
Autumn 11, seen none and the winter never arrived
Nov 12, seen quite a lot todat, so got my fingers crossed for lots and lots of snow[/quote]

Well let me be the first to congratulate you when it happens.

 

[cookiemonster]

[QUOTE 2146358, member: 9609"]Have just been watching a big flock of them, I had heard they were in the far north of Scotland last week, and I have now just been watching some here in Scottish Borders. Last time I seen so many we had an outstanding winter, in fact every time I have seen them we have had proper winters.

[/quote]

A lot of them have came from scandinavia a bit earlier than normal, and in larger numbers, as the winter has arrived there already. They may be here for a while

 

[Glow worm]

Ive never seen a Waxwing, always wanted to, always wondered when ive seen flocks of birds...ooh, maybe, one day.

Might be worth having a look at this site over the winter for local waxwings. (There were quite a few spotted in Peterborough on the 8th November for example). Just realised from today's report that I must have cycled right past a couple of waxwings earlier today at Wicken Fen without seeing them!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Great pictures and I'm jealous! I've never seen one in the UK... or anywhere else, for that matter.

Because I know nothing about the bird, I googled my way off to the RSPB. Their ''irruptions'' (ooh, a new term for me!) into the UK were put down to food pressure when populations were high. That would suggest that it's due to the preceding conditions rather than what's may lie ahead. If we have a real cold winter, I'd be more likely to blame the rise in energy bills.