We are nearing mid-November, a time when you begin to feel that autumn migration has pretty much come to a close, and, while that may be the case for some species, it still feels like this autumn has more to give. Waxwings have been on the move all week with new flocks noted on the east coast. They breed in the remote northern pine forests of Scandinavia and Russia. In autumn and winter they feed on berries and it is the relative abundance of these that determines how far the birds have to travel to find food.

A waxwing. Photo by John Harding, courtesy of BTO.

The sight of a Waxwing can brighten up any winter day, no matter how dull the weather. Not only do these Starling-sized birds have rather smart plumage, but they also have bags of personality and are usually confiding in habit. Small numbers reach our shores most winters but every few years we see a large influx, an arrival triggered by poor berry crops closer to their breeding range as happened in 2013 to spectacular effect.

Keep a good look out for them, they’re unmissable.

To find out more about Waxwings, follow the BTO link below and feast your eyes.

https://www.bto.org/about-birds/species-focus/waxwing?dm_i=IG4,4LHGI,3CXALW,H2VEX,1