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Oct 2021
1:13pm, 12 Oct 2021
8,028 posts
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Northern Exile
Sadly, I think comrade Putin may be indisposed 
Another Jay this morning, GS woodpecker too. Very rare visitors to our garden.
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Oct 2021
1:13pm, 12 Oct 2021
2,181 posts
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bonners
bonners, I'd like to think so. But isn't the determinant of whether or not it's a waxwing winter what is happening in Scandinavia and north west Russia rather than what is happening here?
Isn't it to do with them having a good breeding season?
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Oct 2021
3:58pm, 12 Oct 2021
20,056 posts
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flanker
Who, the Russians? The colder it is, the more breeding goes on I expect.
It's more to do with the availability of food in their native areas, and when it scarce they are forced to forage further afield. Of course, a larger number of juveniles will put a greater demand on the supply, so I guess you are indirectly correct.
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Oct 2021
4:55pm, 12 Oct 2021
2,388 posts
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Surelynot
2000 barnacle geese have arrived at Caerlaverock on the Solway today. Many more expected.
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Oct 2021
5:03pm, 12 Oct 2021
3,865 posts
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J2R
flanker, that was my understanding too. But yes, a good breeding season would create extra pressure. Anyway, I'd like to have a great waxwing winter here without there being a problem for waxwings, and I suppose that is too much to ask.
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Oct 2021
5:31pm, 12 Oct 2021
52,134 posts
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Derby Tup
2000 barnacle geese arriving must be some sight
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Oct 2021
9:54am, 13 Oct 2021
2,393 posts
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Surelynot
Wish I'd been down there, DT.
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Oct 2021
7:16pm, 13 Oct 2021
17,954 posts
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KinkyS
I've planted a rowan tree to attract waxwings to our garden. It's currently about 18" tall so it might be a few years before it has enough berries to drag a bird all the way from Russia...
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Oct 2021
7:23pm, 13 Oct 2021
80,773 posts
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Hanneke
They grow very quickly I find! Mine was self seeded in the garden so literally started off as a berry about 5 years ago and is now big enough to flower and carry berries!
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Oct 2021
9:17am, 14 Oct 2021
3,869 posts
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J2R
KinkyS, it seems that the trees they like most are the ornamental ones around shopping centres and the like!
The first time I ever saw a waxwing was, rather amazingly, right outside my house in a residential street in Norwich. I stepped outside, heard a curious bird noise I wasn't familiar with and spotted a bunch of them on a TV aerial opposite. They then flew across and made themselves comfortable in a silver birch tree in my garden, where they stayed for some hours!
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