Waxwings

There's no other title I could choose for this post really - just Waxwings.

I saw 11 beautiful Waxwings perching in the fairly low trees along a road in South-Western Aylesbury, in Fairford Leys. I had been searching for about an hour and a half, had one birder with a camera mention his colleague had seen some within the last couple of hours, and (most peculiar) had a chav ask me if I was looking for the Waxwings. Yes, even the chav had seen them. Full of resolve, I decided after this lengthy period to drive a short way through Fairford Leys from Gatehouse Industrial Estate where they had been reported as being 'habitually' in a particular set of trees, and keep my eyes peeled for Waxwing-shaped birds in the trees.

Sure enough, after about 2 minutes of driving, there were some perfect candidates. I swerved up the steep kerb onto the pavement, wheels be damned, and leapt out with the binoculars. There were 11 in total, although it took me several counts to be completely sure. They were performing quite well, doing a bit of posing, preening, feeding, flying, and trilling away quietly to one another.

It was like something out of a dream!

There I was watching these birds that I had only ever dreamt (very much so, lately!) of seeing since I first laid eyes on them in Dad's old bird book. And there they were, getting as close as 4m away, affording me perfect views of their stunning good looks - especially when the sun came out every now and again! I watched for around 45 minutes before I had to go, just enjoying the sight of these birds and taking it all in. You never know, there may not be an eruption of Waxwings for a long time, and these are potentially the last ones I'll ever see! You just never know.

But I hope I'm wrong. This was one of the highlights of my birding life - topped only by the Firecrest in Lynford Aboretum, the Snow Buntings, Brent Geese, Water Rail and Jack Snipe at Titchwell, and the Shore Larks, Short-Eared Owl and thousands of Starlings at Dunwich. Just one of those moments where you say "wow" to yourself and feel a little overwhelmed. Even then, it's on par with these in other aspects! I suppose this was mainly down to the fact that I'd tried and failed continuously this winter to find Waxwings, and it was a moment of sheer relief along with the joy, that I didn't have to wait until next year for them to migrate back and avoid me all over again. It was a shame Dad wasn't there to enjoy this with me, but at least he'd seen them a week previously.

So, on from Waxwings, the other highlights of the trip included Rook, Redwing and Common Gull (first of the year of each, the last a first for Aylesbury) and a party of 10+ Siskins giving good, prolonged views in a not-too-tall-for-once-tree. The flock, I'm sure, was added to later on, increasing the number to about 20 or so, as a party of that number flew over later on making very Siskin-esque noises. Could have been a different flock entirely. Who cares? They're beautiful birds!

It's a shame that winter is going to be over soon and these fabulous birds shall depart (and the bloody leaves will grow back, making seeing anything nigh-on impossible) but with spring comes new growth, new birds, and new trips to see them. Roll on April birding trip in Suffolk, that's what I say!

Aaaaaah, satisfying Waxwing '1' for my spreadsheet. No-one can take that away from me.