29th February 2024 - reports that it was going to be a 'Waxwing winter' started in November last year, with good numbers of these charismatic birds starting to appear in Scotland. Over the following weeks, these colourful winter visitors from Scandinavia slowly worked their way south and west reaching Cambridgeshire around mid-December.
Very small numbers of Bohemian Waxwing (to given them their full name) find their way across to northern Britain most winters, but occasionally when the berries run short in Scandinavia, this species can 'irrupt' across the North Sea with huge numbers visiting the UK for several months over the winter period. The last major 'irruption' was in 2012-2013, so for many this current winter's event was a spectacle not to be missed.
During the run up to Christmas, small flocks of Bohemian Waxwing were being watched avidly in Coton and by the railway station in Great Shelford, but throughout January locally the birds seemed to be remaining largely within Cambridge. However, as these flock methodologically stripped their favourite berries from the trees there, they would inevitably need to move on, and finally on 29th February a flock of 20 was spotted on Granta Park by Darren B. Luckily he had his camera, and took a few photos.
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