More Waxwings

Today was WeBS count day, so I spent the morning at Girton Pits. It was a gorgeous late autumn day, with a clear blue sky, rich autumn colours, and a frosty ground. There was nothing unusual amongst the wildfowl, although the Tufted Duck count was relatively high at 655, and there were single Green Sandpiper on the Sailing Lake and Little Egret on Spalford Pit.

Best, however, was a party of at least 17 Waxwings along Trent Lane, next to the horse paddock. Once again, they were a bit against the light which made photography difficult, although were cracking through my scope! They spent most of their time perched up in an ash, with some of them dropping down to take hawthorn berries, before they flew off west with some Fieldfares (and it appeared there may actually have been up to 20).



Waxwing at Girton Pits

Waxwings at Girton Pits

About 20 minutes later, 14 Waxwings flew south; they may have been part of the earlier group, but were on a pretty determined north-south track and I heard them calling from some distance away - I suspect they may well have been different birds.

This afternoon, Amy wanted to go for a walk, and didn't take much persuading that we could combine this with a visit to Langford Lowfields for the Starling roost. Neither of us was disappointed. I've no idea how many birds were involved, but it was thousands, and the noise of their wings overhead, and their incredible chattering once in the roost, was brilliant. The afternoon was topped off with a hunting Barn Owl, a single flyover Waxwing, and a singing Cetti's Warbler.

Starlings

Starlings

A great finish to a good weekend.