Wildlife -Winter 2008

[mark smyth]

or in the trees in the back garden close to the back door and of course I'm envious

I aslo heard on Monday there is a huge invasion of European coal tits Parus ater Look out for brighter blue/grey backs

[annew]

A big flock of fieldfares arrived here yesterday, the first this year. I'll be watching out for the waxwings though - send a few down, will you Maggi?

[Maggi Young]

Anne, I am TOO fond of them, I want to keep 'em all!
We have always put out fruit for the ground-feeding wintering thrush family flocks and the waxwings are perfectly happy to eat off the ground..... setting spring nets ( I'm sure that's NOT what they're called, though) to spring out over the birds feeding on chopped fruit on the ground is how I've seen waxwings netted for ringing. This was done by  British Trust for Ornithology ringers, if I remember correctly - a few years ago in a garden down the road when there was a big influx of the happy chatterers.
The nets were set up repeatedly in a small front garden and over a few days hundreds were caught, ringed and released. Didn't bother the birds at all, they just gathered in nearby trees when releaed to discuss their experience, and then went down again for more fruit.
The householder was hard at work for hours everyday, chopping fruit, brought by the BTO as donations from the big supermarkets, to use as bait. Poor woman got blisters doing it.

[Armin]

Hi Maggi,
Waxwings are only sporadic winter guests here around my area I live.
You can be proud of having seen this large flock of Waxwings. 
I can imagine it is a similar feeling like seeing a meadow with thousands of crocus in flower

[TC]

There are two hundred Waxwings sitting on trees outside our local DHSS office in Ayr.  Considering the economic climate, they must have come across to sign on the 'broo for the winter season !  They will have to hang about until it opens on Monday.

[TC]

After tidying up the glasshouse and repotting several plants, I thought I would search for the Waxwings.  Some were still where I saw them yesterday and another group were up a tree in a car park.  I managed to get a few shots in the late afternoon sunlight.  My garden has an abundance of pyracantha berries and apples , but they never seem to discover them

[Maggi Young]

Super photos, Tom! Great birds, aren't they.... and remarkable unfazed by us, even if we do get quite close.... we've got right by the trees in the past and they just keep eating and chatting... reminds me of someone.....

[mark smyth]

Just brilliant. The top bird middle photo must be using the same hair styling product that I use

[mark smyth]

I would love to see these birds in their native habitat in the far north of Europe

[ashley]

I would love to see these birds in their native habitat in the far north of Europe

I'd just love to see them full-stop!  Unfortunately they rarely venture down this way, and never in any number. 

However Icelandic redwings have been gorging themselves in our holly trees this last week or so, accompanied by many blackbirds (perhaps including Scandinavian migrants) and woodpigeons.

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks so much Tom for the super pics of waxwings. Love the hair styles! I was thinking that all of you in the NH assumed EVERYONE knew all these little birds because there were plenty notes but no pictures. Believe me, we in the SH DON'T know them at all, so please, as many pics of as many species as possible. I wish our pioneering forebears had introduced some of these others as well as sparrows, blackbirds, thrushes and starlings and a few finches.

[Armin]

Tom - super shots

[Paddy Tobin]

Tom's super waxwings never travel to the south of Ireland. I would love to see them in the flesh but will be happy with Tom's postings in the time being.

Here is a little set of photographs from a friend in Maryland.

Have a look at the photographs first and then I will ask the legal question which came with them.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

And the legal question:

Is this statutory rape?

or is it simply a moosedemeanour?

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

I am no legal beagle, Paddy, but this is getting my award for joke of the week.