Thursday, 10 November 2016

Carlisle Waxwings ..and some other birds today.

A visit this morning to see the flock of about fifty Waxwings feeding on Rowan berries right next to the busy traffic on Currock Road -




In flight the red 'waxy' tips to the secondaries show up well on photos -




The insect-like calls penetrated the noise of traffic as they fed close to the busy road -



Waxwing ( Bohemian Waxwing ) is one of only three members of the genus in the world - and is undoubtedly the most attractive.
It breeds across northern Europe and Asia and has irruptive movements which bring it to Britain irregularly in winter.

Other birds today included 23 Whooper Swans near Walby and 332 Lapwings on the wet field that was once Walby Flash.
On the Geltsdale Reserve a single male Black Grouse perched in a hawthorn near Tortie Cottage and 'bubbled' quietly before flying off to Bruthwaite Forest.
On Talkin Tarn two female Goldeneye and two female Goosanders were present along with a single male Teal - a surprisingly scarce species there.

But the highlight of the day was the Waxwings !




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