Waxwing Sunday

Photos - Waxwings in Warrington this morning.

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First thing I saw when I walked out of the front day this morning was a female Sparrowhawk flying up yddleton Lane. I turned to watch her and there coming down Myddleton Lane was a Buzzard. It was flying very low - just above roof height - and was being mobbed by a Jackdaw. The Buzzard actually flew through our front garden!

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Waterworks Lane this morning was a bit busier than yesterday. 20+ Chaffinches, 13 Yellowhammers, 11 Tree Sparrows, 3 Reed Buntings,a Stock Dove, a cock Pheasant and 4 Grey Partridges. The latter was actually a 3 and a 1 - looks like the covey has begun to break up and one bird was clearly no longer welcome despite constant calling and attempts to join the others. A look back at my records shows all the local coveys broke up in the first week in Feb last year.

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Quick visit to Warrington this morning to see the Waxwings on Forshaw Street. There were 34 birds present - the flock was perched in some tall trees which were in complete shade. Every now and then a few would visit 2 trees with yellow berries and show well in the sunshine. Lots of trilling from these fabulous Scandanavian birds. A pair of Mistle Thrushes also joined them.

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In the garden the Song Thrush was feeding in the flower bed outside the conservatory. 7 Blackbirds and 22 Collared Doves were also present - the male Sparrowhawk made a dash through early afternoon. By mid afternoo 25+ Chaffinches were regularly coming down to feed - with them were 3 Bramblings (2 males and a female) and 2 male Reed Buntings. Curiously I have not seen a single bird on the sunflower hearts feeders all weekend - very unusual.

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I made a quick trip to Houghton Green Flash mid afternoon to encounter a brief snow blizzard. Suddenly the snow stopped and the sun came out. A flock of 59 Linnets were perched in the top of 2 trees in the south hedge - they immediately began chattering and fluffing out their feathers to dry them. I set my scope on full zoom even though I was barely 50 yds away and scanned through the flock. No other species with them but stonking views. Eventually they were joined by 2 male Reed Buntings and 4 Meadow Pipits.

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At the pool were 84 Wigeon, 56 Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Tufted Duck, 14 Pochard and 5 Redshank. 55 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Comon Gulls were also present.