Waxwings Everywhere And I Still Missed Them

[rowanwitch]

On birdguides so many sightings, so many big flocks ( or museums) to use the correct collective term.  Trekked out to Mosely yesterday ,  reports of a large group in the  Mostly bog carpark, missed them by an hour.  Freezing cold, wet and fed up.   

 

At this rate I would be better off planting a load of rowan trees and just waiting!   First tried to see them in the early 1980s, and every accessible sighting since.  Every birder has a jinx bird and waxwings are mine!

[rowanwitch]

Missed them again today, at least this report was local, will try again tomorrow as it's only 10 mins away.

[melv16]

I got 300 on Saturday 😁😁😁😁🤣

[rowanwitch]

Derbyshire? Hassop station???

 

Finally saw them.... Just 10 but  that will. do for me,one would have made my day.   After chasing all over the place they were a 10 minute walk from my flat.

[Chipchopper]

Thanks for the heads-up, Rowan.

I'll be keeping my eyes peeled.

I think that planting tree/shrubs like rowan, pyracantha, whitebeam etc is a great idea to attract these birds

[melv16]

Derbyshire? Hassop station???

Yes, rowan.

The last time there was so many waxwings was 10yrs ago. I got 80 on my cotoneaster in the front garden. 

 

[rowanwitch]

The trick seems to be planting the white and pink berried forms like cashmeriana that don't get their berries stripped by thrushes and blackbirds

[melv16]

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These are the ones at Hassop Station. 

[melv16]

Went to RSPB Old Moor, last week. Not much around due to ice on water. However, I managed to see a Marsh Harrier and a very obliging Bearded Tit.