bfbsoutdoorramblings-Business-Insider

This was fairly local, fairly easy to get onto, and possibly one of my greatest birding spectacles in the UK. Reports that yesterday someone had seen 280 Waxwings on a housing estate in Stockport, unforunatly I didnt pick this up until late that evening, so in trepadation the next morning I set off on the 20 minute journy in hope rather than expectation. Straight to the location and a single Twitcher confirmed that he had seen them  a few minutes before I arrived. ASparrowhawk had flushed them. A lone tree in a front garden was still carrying a few berries, not that many though as it had been well stripped of most of them the previous day. After a search of the area and a little wait longer in they came, you can hear the wing beats as they fly in. A telegraph pole was their sanctuary for now.

so it has arrived, and even better fairly close to home. Only a 30 minute drive to an industrial estate in Cheshire. The weatherman had promised clear blue skies however when I arrived it was overcast, wet and very gloomy... immediatly a couple of Waxwings flew from the tree that I had parked nearby. No chance of any photos even if they had stayed. I took the time to watch the Winter thrushes feeding on the berry laden bushes.











 

Only when you see these birds do you realise how beautiful they are...... stunning!
This is promsing to be a great winter for these migrants. The berry count looks good locally and the returning birds have already settled back into the areas that they frequented in 2008.

Today was my first sighting of the year.... 5 adults and a juvenile. The light was poor and drizzle constantly in the air, but I managed a few shots to brighten up the blog..... really chuffed, superb bird... and local too, Bonus!!