On paying a return visit to Witham St Hughs this morning (Wed) at 10.15, I was surprised to find 16 Waxwings still around number 9 Oak Tree Drive - 14 on the aerial and 2 in the nearby tree. I noticed that it wasn't only number 9 that had a Cotoneaster front hedge but also numbers 5 and 6........hence the Waxwing interest.
I then went on to the Thurlby Lake area at 11.00 to follow up Chris and Rick's report of 52 Waxwings yesterday afternoon. Parking at the usual gate entry and walking in towards the Lake, I could clearly see a Waxwing group silhouetted in trees to the right (as per the 8 Jan report.) Walking around the corner on the road, I counted 12. The question now was 'if the Waxwings had been around that area on 7 Jan (28 - Pete Scott), 8 Jan (52 - Chris G and Rick B) and still today, then there had to be some berries nearby, but where?' A berry source had not been mentioned before, only flycatching. Waxwings often flycatch in good weather between berry sorties, usually accompanied by extended preening bouts but they wouldn't return to the same belt of trees 3 days running just to flycatch. There were no hedges near the perched Waxwings but there was a plantation of low saplings between the road and the Lake.
Sure enough, having entered the plantation, I had a couple of Waxwings land within 10-12 yards of me, soon followed by others, to feed on one of the MANY berry-bearing saplings there - juicy, bright red berries, each well separated on their twigs, just oozing Waxwing appeal; - no wonder there were 52 yesterday.
As I was leaving, I met up with Stuart E., a North Hykeham birder, (non-LBC) looking over Thurlby Lake. He hadn't seen Waxwings since 2004 and was delighted when I pointed out the flock.......he set off round the corner to digiscope them.
Freddy
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