Finally waxwings !

Burnley - 03.12.2023

It's been some five years since I last photographed Waxwings a winter visitor to the UK, so when reports of a big influx of these colourful birds had arrived in the UK it was a case of waiting for them to push further west in to the region.

Waxwing breed in Scandinavia and Russia moving west to avoid the harsh winter, arriving first in the north and east of the UK they soon disperse through out the country taking advantaged and feeding on the many berry landed trees especially found around the carparks of "out of town" shopping centres.

The first birds to the region was a brief visit only staying a couple of hours before moving on, unfortunately at the time I’m travelling back up on the M6 and a lost opportunity to get some images locally.

Wind on a few weeks and I’m again travelling up the M6 and it’s a great day with plenty of sunshine and blue sky’s, you guessed it Waxwings have again appeared again locally but little chance of making it that day so a trip is on the cards for tomorrow.

Now Sunday it’s a change of plan as the Waxwings at the original location are proving difficult to locate but I have another option with twenty birds located in the Burnley area. It’s a grey old day with even fog as I travel over across the moors, disappointing really as yesterday was a great day.

Arriving at the carpark flanked on one side with berry laden trees, the Waxwings have been and gone so no panic getting the gear out, then someone mentioned they were re-located in the next street so quick change of location and hey-presto....Waxwings !

Sat at the top of a tall trees the Waxings are as usual nervous only flying down to feed on red berries when they feel secure. The shooting location's not the best always cluttered with branches spoiling the shot, not the classic shot of a bunches of berries on the branch end with a blue sky background, that’s the way it goes sometimes, still here’s a few images on the day.

Waxwing