My doorstep twitchers in pursuit of the waxwing
Posted by Ellee on Feb 10, 2010 in News | 13 commentsThe Cambridgeshire street I live in has become a mecca for excited twitchers who 
have spotted a couple of waxwings making a rare appearance to the UK this winter.
The enthusiasts were virtually on my doorstep early this morning with their long lenses aimed at a rowan tree across the snow covered street. The sub-zero temperature did not deter them, and my offer of a warming drink was declined as they headed off in eager pursuit of their feathery friends which had flown into a nearby garden.
Yesterday there were 20 birdwatchers, wrapped in woolly hats and thick jackets, including Ian Barton, who lives in the village and was the first to spot them on his way to the doctor’s surgery.
“I’ve lived in the village for 10 years and always look for them in the rowan tree because they love berries, and this is the first time I spotted them,” he said.
The waxwing usually arrive here every winter from Scandinavia and love feeding on berries, only this year there have been very few sightings of them, hence the flurry of excitement. I spoke to one birdwatcher who had travelled from Hertfordshire after being alerted on his pager which tracks the movements of all rare birds in the UK, and this is how they usually get to hear about it.
I know this will greatly interest keen ornithologist and blogger Maalie, who I hope will take me up on my offer of a coffee if he makes the journey here to view them.
And I wonder if we will we end up being besieged like the Norfolk village of Cley two years ago following the appearance of a rare sparrow and attracted more than 1,000 birdwatchers…
UPDATE 4.30pm: Twitchers are still arriving, including one from London, but the waxwings have apparently not been seen since 12.30pm because of a dominant and territorial mistle thrush which is sitting in the tree and keeping them away.
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire called to interview my MEP Robert Sturdy about Greece’s bail out and I knew they would be interested in speaking to the birdwatchers too for a report. So I went outside and passed my phone over to them and they were interviewed by Mark Williamson who, you could say, killed two birds with one stone! Only not those lovely waxwings, I hope!
It’s wonderful to have lots of birds about. I’ve got lots here where I live, of many varieties, with some watching and waiting for my every mood! I through out meat scraps from when I cut up food for my two furry rascals, and any that they don’t eat. The kookaburras, butcher birds, magpies and currawongs have their sentries up high keeping watch!
If my cats are outside and I call them to come back inside, the birds come!
Quite a friendly neighbourhood I in which I dwell!
How very much fun, an ‘event’ right there on your doorsteps. I love you handing over the mobile for an interview!
We have a flock of cedar waxwings we see from time to time out ouor back door. Very interesting birds
I like birdwatching – I’d love to see a waxwing – but I wouldn’t be turning down hot drinks in weather like this!
ha.. funny
maybe it`s because of the very instable weather in the last time.. dunno
I would love to know more about bird song – I was listening to a programme on it yesterday coming back from walking on Bodmin Moor. Sounded fascinating.
Good to see that this is alive and well.
Simon, Maalie’s friend should have been at home feathering his own nest on his wedding night
Was she still there when he returned?
And there was me worried about taking photos out of my own front window!
I have done a lot of birding twitching to over the years. not that bothered about waxwings – pretty though..
I like birdwatching a lot, but I am not a twitcher… Maalie told me of one fellow who left his wife on the wedding night to twitch a bird!!!
Pip, I feel guilty that I didn’t spend more time looking at them now.
Beautiful bird. I used to love bird watching. My fave to hear was the skylark but I remember being so moved when seeing how very tiny a jenny wren was. Such tiny little bundles of beauty. It’s amazing there are heart and lungs and folded wings in that little ball of reddish fluff. Such a joy.