The only problem is that they were in my Inbox rather than in my garden.

Here they are (left), in a photo sent by my very pleased friend Jean in Flitwick of the scene outside her house.

She had been walking home one day through the estate where she lives when she noticed what at first glance looked like 'funny Starlings' (left).

If I zoom in on the centre of the photo (right), you can see even in Jean's snatched 'record shot' why she then got so excited. The tell-tale dumpiness, jaunty crest, and yellow-tipped tail show that a taste of Siberia has truly arrived. And we can imagine they feel totally at home among the hoar frost.

Jean is fortunate in that there are not only plenty of ornamental trees still bearing berries in the gardens around her but the amenity plantings along the verges too have trees where the fruits have yet to be plundered by Blackbirds or Starlings. Her Waxwings could be around for weeks.

This is where growing a tree specifically with the thought of attracting Waxwings is a bit of a challenge. Some berries such as elders and rowans are often so attractive to our native Blackbirds and thrushes and Starlings that they've been scoffed bare well before the Waxwings have even thought of coming here. The trick is to plant something that isn't quite so palatable. Some of the crab apples, cotoneasters and pyracanthas seem to be ideal.

It is interesting to think about how these Waxwings homed in on suburban Bedfordshire. Most species use a 'search image' - they have a picture in their mind of the type of habitat that they know will usually reap rewards. It's just like us driving through a town looking for somewhere to recharge our batteries - we know that the place with the swinging picture board outside is the place the head for.

So, unlike most birds which head for bits of wild countryside, nature reserve and farmland, Waxwings are unusual in seeming to know that their best chance of food is to head for the houses.

All eyes peeled for funny Starlings, then!

 

 

  • They have arrived in South Devon, they are not in my garden but in a near by town. They must be quite rare down here as there are loads of birdwatchers surrounding them with some very expensive kit. We were in the area by chance so stopped to see what all the fuss was about. It is the first time I’ve seen one.