This year has seen an incredible number of waxwings in the country, especially in East Anglia. Talking to others waiting for them, I think the last time something similar happened was 2017.
In December, I tried to see them 4 times. Each time, there was a crowd of people hoping to see them as they fed on a small rowan trees, with people getting very close to the trees or crossing right in front of them. Maybe it was the crowd (I believe a similar event last year in March directly led to me failing to observe a lesser spotted woodpecker- just too many people), but each of these 4 times, I did not see them. One such time I missed a group of waxwings by just 5 minutes.
Then came endless wind and rain, and when I went the waxwings were no more. They had vanished soon after. Waxwings are very mobile birds, and the previous week I had been searching in nearby locations, but they seemed to fly away as soon as someone saw them.
Until 30 of them reappeared in Shelford. Later joined by 11 to the north of that. So I decided to try for the 5th-and last-time. I have seen waxwings before, and this was getting out of hand. The last time I was trying and failing to see a specific bird to such an incredible extent was a golden oriole in 2018, which I eventually managed to catch at an open perch (after passing by dozens of times and failing to look properly).
At Shelford station, however, there was a tree, and that tree was full of waxwings.
Finally, I saw them. Compared with the last time, I got much closer, much better and much sharper images of the beautiful birds. I was impressed, but still think Japanese waxwings are prettier because the yellow is replaced by red (imagine the stampede if that turned up in the UK!)
There were just 3 others there with me. I tried taking photos as they fed on a rowan tree, but every time they flew over, a car came crashing over the rail crossing and sent them flying back. Eventually they gave up and flew far away to perch at the top of a tall tree, and I left soon after.
I really hope my other bird targets for 2024 don't cause me such problems.
I'm afraid you did indeed get much closer, and it is obvious you haven't learned from previous and are still disturbing wildlife, as your second photo shows.
I haven't spent time digging out some of your worst previous photos, incl breaking the law to disturb and photo roosting barn owls. Others you posted, incl disturbing a golden oriole, drowning frogs, and chasing a sparrowhawk with prey down an alley are below:-
https://community.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/f/where-to-watch-wildlife/209548/where-can-i-see-common-frogs-in-cambridge/1311355#1311355
https://community.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/f/all-creatures/275427/golden-orioles-how-a-major-dissapointment-became-an-acheivement
community.rspb.org.uk/.../wildlife-cambridge-2021
community.rspb.org.uk/.../uk-s-last-lady-amherst-s-pheasant