Waxwings

Waxwings can be very confiding, allowing a great view of their large crest, pinkish brown body and eponymous waxy wings. The waxy tips are actually the extended shafts of the feathers, and the number seen will identify the age and sex of the bird, ranging from none on young females to eight on adult males. Listen out for their distinctive trilling call too, sounding oddly reminiscent of "sid-little".  In flight they look similar in shape to the familiar Starling

It has been a number of years since there has been a winter influx of Waxwings.

In October 2010 there was the biggest arrival in years of Waxwing in the UK.  Birds flooded in on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 October. On those two days alone, over 2,700 birds were reported in Scotland, with many smaller flocks along the English east coast. The biggest flocks were reported on Tuesday 26 October, with 480 in Pitlochry and 320 in Aberfeldy according to www.birdguides.com.

Arran did not miss out in this “invasion”.  At lunch time on Thursday 21 October five Waxwings were reported at Invercloy in Brodick.  This was the first report. Later that day there were fifteen by Brodick Bowling Grreen.  On Saturday 23 Ocober in the afternoon there was up to thirty Waxwings in the trees of the Royal Hotel Whiting Bay and the adjacent Whiting Bay Primary School. The birds were still around this area on Sunday afternoon. Also on Sunday afternoon there was a flock of around ten birds in the trees close to Brodick Library, six around the Catacol Bay Hotel and fifty in Kingscross. In some cases, observers were getting within five metres of these very confiding birds.  On Monday 25 October reports included; forty in Brodick, twenty over High Kildonan flying west, thirteen by the lay by with the phone box in Sannox, one in a bus shelter in Sandbraes, thirty by the golf course in Lochranza,  and twenty sitting on a TV aerial in Pirnmill.  Widespread reports continued throughout the week with up to one hundred by the Auchrannie on Saturday 30 October.

Similarly November and December 2012 were exceptional months for sightings particularly on the east of the island. Groups included 60 Invercloy on 12 November, 40 Lamlash on 15 November, 120 Brodick on 16 November, 530 Cnoc na Daill on 17 November, 50 Kiscadale on 17 November, 100 Merkland on 26 November, 58 Corrie on 3 December and 35 Lochranza on 12 December.

Since then one record in 2013, two in 2014, none in 2015, eight in 2016, one in 2017 and none in 2018 –  but perhaps this winter?  Be prepared for them turning up anywhere, where there are trees and bushes with bright red and orange berries even those on ornamental trees. Waxwings brighten any winter’s day.