18/02/2023 Bolton, Greater Manchester

Waxwing: Spent my Saturday morning on a resitential estate in Bolton, a typical place you would find waxwings as they seek out the red berries of ornamental bushes and shrubs. 

Over the past few weeks this single waxwing has taken up residence at Laurel Avenue feeding on s small cotoneaster bush outside of a lovely ladies house. 

When I arrived there was a the group of mainly camouflage clad blokes with long lenses and no binoculars pointing their telephotos high up at a tree, a good sign the bird is still here. 

After a short wight the bird flew down and landed on the cotoneaster before scoffing the berries. 

I need up chatting to the lady who was happy to allow us to stand on her driveway, this was great, really greats as the bird either favoured the far side of the bush or was in a position were the branches where in the way.

 

The wether was hit a and miss with blue skies and then rolling grey clouds, I had to wait and chance my luck between the differing light levels. 

A tricky situation to be in but with some patines and knowhow I got there in the end with some stunning blue skies and an even more stunning bird.  

30/01/2023 Ingleby Barwick, Cleveland

Waxwing: This week work has taken up to Middlesbrough, part of the world I had';t really spent much time birding, sure I've twitched a few birds there but never bird area properly. 

Over the next few months I will have the opportunity to get to know the area and hopefully find something good on my travels. 

Toady before I started my survey I thought I would join the party and go to see the long staying waxwings which have been eating ether way though the barriers around and area of Ingleby Barwick called The Rings. 

When I arrived one bird was perched high in a silver birch facing the roundabout, this was pointed out a cute family on their way to school, but before I was able to take a phot the bird short off. 

I relocated all six birds off Myton Way but again they flew off almost as soon as I spotted them. 

These are great birds, the male has soft, pinkish-grey plumage with a paler rump and underparts, and a rufous patch under its tail. The black wings have yellow and white stripes, and long, bright red tips that look a little like sealing wax and which give the bird its name. The head is reddish-brown with a black face mask, and it has a short, pink upright crest.  

The female is very similar to the male but has less distinct markings, while juveniles are duller with a much shorter crest and a smaller face mask.

04/01/2019 Lambeth Road, Liverpool

Waxwing: Today I ventured out to Gods country, Liverpool, and after yesterdays defeat to Man City it was nice to get out and enjoy what bird life Liverpool has on offer.








First stop was to Lambeth road were a small flock of waxwing had been reported. I've yet to catch up with one this year so it was great to see seven feeding so close today.

Its been a good time for waxwing as today there were reports from Lancaster, Manchester, Chorley and Liverpool - so no excuse to get out and see them.

28/11/2016 Blackburn

Waxwing: In the birding calendar there are some really great red letter days that I really look forward to, one of which is the Waxwing eruptions. When these charismatic little birds come to the UK in large numbers.

Of which there have been 25 Waxwing favouring the area around Go Outdoors in Blackburn. I like the fact Waxwings are attracted to urban areas and can be seen around town centres and retail parks, they are birds anyone can find anywhere!

In my humble opinion these are one of the best British birds, they are relatively scarce and can only been seen during one part of the year and they are stunning, with yellow waxy wings and tail tips and a rosey crest.

The birds have been seen regularly feeding on the berries of a Rowan tree opposite the Griffin Pub near the Tesco Express, however when I arrived all I saw at this tree was a gang of birders and photographers and no Waxwings.

Although I didn't see any birds on the Rowan, there were plenty in that area with plenty calling in a tree off Garden Street.

The birds eventually moved off Garden Street and flew across the road to Portland Street.
Here they spent the afternoon loafing around the treetops and occasionally coming down to feed on berries.

It was great spending the afternoon watching the birds as they flew around the houses and feeding on the berries.

When I got home I was gutted to read on Facebook that there was a small flock of Waxwings spotted in the car park of Toby Carvery in Lowton.
This is only 5 minutes up the road from where I live. I guess it goes to show that these birds can turn up anywhere!

I'm sure I will either be back in Blackburn or finding some Waxwings a little closer to home.

13/02/2014 Orrell Water Park

Waxing: Friday the 13th and its not been all that bad I found a few new cars to look at over the weekend and I bagged a very local and very excellent Waxing.




The bird has been feeding on apples that had been secured on the branches in a front garden opposite Orrell Water Park at the junction of Lodge road and Moss road WN5 7AT.






The light was awful and for the most part the bird was high up in a tree behind the house and was regularly spooked off by a resident Sparrowhawk.









Really good to bump in to Hugo and Pete Kinsella - happy gulling dude.

10/03/2013 Elton/Helsby Service Station

Waxwing: Mothers Day Waxwing, what a treat!

Me and Dawn went up to Carnforth and decided to treat ourselves to a MacDonald's  breakfast on the way.

On the way in to the fast food restaurant I spotted a small flock of birds high up in a tree outside the adjacent hotel and said to Dawn 'Oh they may be Waxwings' then after stuffing out faces with hash browns I cam out and took a closer look.

They were indeed Waxwings, around 30-40 all showing well and flying right past me to get to a berry bush at the back of the place. Brilliant surprise.

13/11/2012 Warrington, Milner Street

Waxwing: What brilliant birds, not only are they stunning and scarce but when they turn up on our small damp island they cause us birders to do a little twitching!

They are known to turn up on industrial estates, car parks and in this case next to a Kia garage and opposite the Honda garage along a business estate in Warrington.

There were about 50+ birds which were in a large American Plane Tree and seemed to be scouting the areas by flying short distances off their perches then back again. They then decided to descend only a metre away from me on a berry tree polishing off the fruit.

I arrived around 1330 and the birds stayed until around 1410 and then flew off out of sight, I came back about 40 minutes later and they were back on their American Plane Tree.

 

 

What a super bird! Brilliant day and the £10 well spent (train fare) I just wished the lighting was better as I’m not thrilled with my results, the pictures are grainy and the colours on the birds is not as vivid. Perhaps ill get lucky again when the weather improves.

 

 

 

 

I deleted this post by mistake and can’t change it around and make it an older post

*****PLEASE SEE PREVIOUS POST FOR BETTER WAXWING PICS AND NEWEST REPORT*****

20/11/2012 Chester Business Park

Waxwing: Wonderful Waxwings have finally made it to Chester and again on my split shift i grabbed my camera and headed off to Chester Business Park where over twenty of the beauties had be seen between MBNA and Natwest.

I took a very long walk around the place and didn’t see or hear any sign of them or any other birders but I didn’t give up these birds have an effect on me and other birders.

Perhaps it’s the way they look theses birds are stunning with their colourful wing tips and Jimmy Hendrix hair doo! Well more like Jedwood. Or perhaps because they are approachable as they pose while stuffing their beaks on berry trees just feet away from your lens. Or maybe it’s because they are rare but seen regularly in town centres, car parks and anywhere else you wouldn’t find a tropical crazy looking bird.

For me it’s their attitude and personality they are cool and colourful little characters.

 

I could only find a modest flock of five but they still put on a good show, there might have been more as Chester Business Park is pretty big. These birds where spotted alongside the main road through the park near Regents Building and opposite MBNA.

 Brilliant, beautiful, bohemian waxwing