Waxwing winter ahead?

18 Dec 2015 Waxwing by Margaret Holland

One special winter species is Waxwing and BirdTrack data reveals December as the best month to find them. Breeding in northern Scandinavia and Russia, Waxwings winter from southern Scandinavia east to Asia. A few reach Britain and Ireland each year but when there has been a poor berry crop in their normal wintering range irruptions can occur, resulting in large numbers moving further afield.

A few Waxwings were seen in northern England and Scotland in early November and sightings have increased steadily since then. Waxwings will readily enter gardens and urban areas in search of berries. Feeding birds can be so tame that it's possible to go past them without noticing, so keep an ear out for their distinctive trilling call.



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