Nature always has a way of surprising you, however long you’ve been observing it. Take today for instance. A glance out of the office window at the flocks of chaffinches on the sunflower seeds; lovely in their own way but nothing out of the ordinary. Some were even coming into their bright spring breeding plumage now. Further across the lawn (or what passes for a lawn – it’s more a bed of moss) several blackbirds were squabbling as usual over some old apples and a couple of song thrushes moved in while they weren’t looking. On the nut feeders, 2-3 (or was it 23?) different blue tits were dashing back and forth, seeing off coal tits and standing their ground against the house sparrows. And of course, yes, there he was – cheeky robin waiting to come into the warm office.
So, all in all, a pretty typical garden scene at Dunvegan Towers. But as the sleet and snow flurries intensified, an extraordinary flash of colour caught my eye amidst the grey winter scene. There perched on the side of the bird bath was a single beautiful waxwing. A touch of the exotics had exploded into the winter drabness with crest raised, black throat, yellow tip to the tail, yellow and white flashes and those characteristic red ‘waxy’ tips to the wings. He sat there surveying the scene beneath him on the grass. He must have thought he’d died and gone to heaven. Chopped apples, squishy red plums and over-ripe bananas were there for the taking. It didn’t take him long to dive in. He hopped around on the ground in amongst the blackbirds and song thrushes feeding continuously on his favourite, the plums.
Waxwing in Dave's garden - Photo Debby Thorne
This winter there have been very few waxwing sightings in Scotland and indeed across the UK. In some winters they ‘erupt’ in large numbers from their homes in sub-Arctic northern Europe. They sometimes arrive after those invading Viking thrushes, the redwings and fieldfares, have stripped the hedgerows and gardens bare. At times like that people start to see waxwings turning up in supermarket car parks and industrial estates where Cotoneaster shrubs are heavy with scarlet berries. The waxwings can often become very tame and barely seem to notice the gathering crowds of people who sometimes flock to see them. They are worth making a trip for.
Our lonely waxwing must have become separated from his flock. He was still feeding in the garden at gone 6pm and the light was all but gone. A stunningly exquisite bird feeding just a few feet away. I thought it couldn’t get any better than this. And then it did. Across the rushy field behind the house floated the white form of a barn owl, silent and ghostly in the gathering dusk. Two special birds in view at the same time. The waxwing froze in fear and the barn owl drifted on. As the final light faded, the waxwing took his chance to flee. He flew to the top of the rowan tree, paused a moment and then took off to the north to seek out a safe, dense conifer to roost in for the night. Our brief glimpse into the nomadic world of these colourful Nordic visitors. As I said, nature always has a way of surprising you.
Our satellite tagged young white-tailed eagles have been on the move lately and it's welcome home to Breagha. Check out the latest updated map on the tracking page. Sadly still radio silence from Venus and I'm beginning to be less optimistic for her welfare.
David Sexton
RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
I hope Venus appears again soon. Love watching waxwings. We had a flock on the neighbours Rowan tree last January but haven't seen any this year. We have had a blackcap in the garden for about a month. It is over 20 years since I saw one in my garden.