Retail therapy

Sunday 9th January 2011.

With the prospect of good light and blue skies this morning, the Admiral and I decided on a trip to Tesco, retail juggernaut and inadvertent wildlife site, though not for provisions, you understand. Specifically, the store located in Bletchley.

The supermarket's car park had become the latest food emporioum of choice for the roving flock of Waxwings that have been in the MK area for several months. Not having bumped into them in huge numbers or even bright sunshine, this was an opportunity not to be missed.

Finding them was reasonably simple, as they were perched in some trees by the fuel station. But the small group of birders amongst the Sunday shoppers were hoping for some berry action, courtesy of the Sorbus trees dotted throughout the car park. These were still laden with red fruit and seemingly irresistible to your average Waxwing.

Hmmm, that's an interesting concept. Is there such a thing as an average Waxwing? They're just so splendid in every department. Beautiful colours, natty crest, cute song and ever so approachable.

By good fortune, one particular line of trees was situated in a less busy part of the car park and presented the best chances of photographic opportunities. A pair of resident Mistle Thrushes were somewhat taken aback at having to share their fruit with the Scandinavian visitors, but they were as helpless as the Saxon monks of a Lindisfarne monastery, in the face of the invading Viking hordes.

The main flock of 200 or so Waxwings broke up into smaller groups, which then repeatedly descended on the berry-laden trees. Their frenzied feeding was not even interrupted by the presence of so many equally-oblivious shoppers, who only seemed to notice the birds when half a dozen cameras were suddenly trained on the fruity feasting.

A few birds were even landing on the ground to gorge on fallen berries, quite unconcerned by the people and cars around them, who themselves were caught up in their own mad dash for provender. However, I would sooner listen to a chorus of Waxwing-y trilling than the sounds of squeaky trolley wheels and impatient shoppers.

After an hour or so, a Kestrel appeared and landed on top of a large lighting gantry in the centre of the car park, causing the Waxwings to temporarily depart. We, too, took this as our cue to move on, after a pleasant morning in the company of these spectacular birds.

Our patch of ice

North Buckinghamshire remains in the grip of some wintry weather, with temperatures well below freezing, and low cloud and fog adding to the gloomy mood. The prolonged period of ice and snow has made life even tougher for resident and migratory birds alike, but this does allow closer encounters than is usual. Whilst they concentrate on finding food, the presence of humans seems to become a secondary concern.

Waxwings have stripped this tree of berries

Blackbirds feed up on Pyracantha berries

Unexpectedly close flypast by a Snipe

Brrrrrr...ding at home

With the return of the cold weather and daytime temperatures below zero degrees Celsius, we've noticed, as I'm sure other folk have, an increase in bird activity in the garden. The feeders are busy from first light until dusk, as the birds seek to take in enough calories to see them through the next frozen night.

The first clue to the severity of the situation was the appearance of three Robins at once. Their frenzied chases across the lawn, through bushes and along the fences should really be set to a soundtrack of engines revving and tyres squealing. All high tempo stuff, when I'm sure that what they should be concentrating on is stuffing their beaks full of food.

Finch numbers have ramped up too. There are so many Goldfinches that they've been queueing up for the four port feeder, which for a feisty, impatient bird is a telling statement in itself. The goldies have also taken to exploring the rest of the garden, finding the seed heads on the various Lavender and Lemon Balm plants in the borders.

The bravest Goldfinch in the world

Yesterday there was even a brief glimpse of a Siskin, though it couldn't find room on the feeders amongst all the Greenfinches and Chaffinches, so presumably gave up and went elsewhere.

Taking a break from the garden activity, we decided to walk around Tongwell Lake for a breath of fresh air. Bearing in mind the temperature, it was certainly fresh! As we arrived at the lake, one or two tiny flakes of snow appeared out of the sky, and in no time at all, this became a flurry and then a steady snowfall.

Most of the lake was frozen solid, with only three small patches of clear water. Predictably, these contained a concentrated mixture of wildfowl, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Mallard, as well as many Coot and Moorhen, plus two Great Crested Grebes. On the edge of the ice, a few Shoveler sat huddled together, looking very forlorn and perhaps dreaming of warmer climes. Bizarrely for December, in a tree by the lake, a Great Tit was hammering out its "Teacher, teacher" call, as if it was perfectly normal to be thinking about attracting a mate in the run up to Christmas. Some office party that must've been!

On the way back to Tense Towers, we noticed a house for sale, and nosey blighters that we are, we stopped to figure out how big its garden might be. Behind this property was a large tree, bare of leaves, but sporting a fine crop of birds in its upper branches. For some reason, when it's cold, I have trouble with scale, so I assumed they were Wood Pigeons. Our Lass (promotion to capital letters for reasons that will become apparent) would never make so basic an error. Assume? I don't think so! She had also heard their calls, and, after a quick scan with her binoculars, pointed out that they were actually Waxwings.

There were at least 50 birds in the flock, but as smaller groups kept flying off and then re-appearing, it was difficult to be sure of exact numbers. This is a pointless quibble however, as we'd never seen this many Waxwings in one fell swoop, and especially as there's been loads of them in the UK this Autumn, all of which we'd failed to see. 

Suddenly, despite the falling snow, it now felt a lot less cold, warmed as we were by the glow of a rise in our fortunes. Nearer to home, we spotted some Redwings feeding in a garden, mere feet from windows and doors. Amongst these, there was also a male Bullfinch, looking impossibly scarlet against the snowy backdrop.

Back indoors, and another surprise awaited us, for waddling about on the lawn was a Pied Wagtail. I say "waddling" as it was missing a foot, so had a bit of a limp. Looking back at our garden records, it is traditional for a wagtail to show up at this time of year, but they're always welcome nevertheless, no matter how many feet they have. 

Now, as I prepare to publish this post, our area has had its first significant snowfall of the Winter, about 6" (15cm or one normal-sized Nac Mac Feegle).

A march in March

The good news is that we've all been reprieved from a Tense Towers rant due to a fortuitous set of circumstances.

What could possibly be upsetting our scribe this fine March day? Oh, you had to ask.

The latest Waxwing news is that they're no longer there. How am I so sure? Well, for one, the tree they were sitting in has gone, mistletoe and all, to that great arboretum in the sky. During the last few weeks, contractors have been busy felling alternate trees along the main street through our estate. By chance, possibly the toss of a coin, the fate of Waxwing tree was sealed long before our colourful, crested visitors arrived. One tree either way and we would still have a wonderful clump of mistletoe to marvel, the only one in the area. Fan-flipping-tastic.

But you're right, dear long-suffering reader, it is a bright, clear March day. The sort of day that says "Stuff the housework, let's get out there and have some fresh air". Miraculously, I managed to persuade younger daughter to forego the comfort of her duvet and accompany me. So off we set for Little Linford Wood with high hopes of some early morning wildlife (early for Ruth, that is).

After trudging over the fields in a biting wind, we entered the shelter of the wood and followed the main ride northwards, passing an Ash tree on the edge of the path that is a good spot for Pine Ladybird during the warmer part of the year. Well, used to be a good spot, it's now three feet high and not nearly so impressive. There was a nice log pile beside it, which will be habitat for many an invertebrate, I'm sure, but any upwardly-mobile Pine Ladybird is going to be a bit disappointed come Spring.

Now, I do like a mad axeman as much as the next guy, but I'd prefer it if he was Michael Schenker or Eddie Van Halen, rather than some chainsaw-toting habitat mismanagement vandal. Sorry, I wasn't going to rant...

Continuing out of the wood, we circled west to cross the valley twice, finding Tree Sparrow and Skylark on the way. Then, heading back towards the wood, and perhaps more importantly into the wind, we had a huge slice of luck. With lashings of fortune custard.

In the fields, we happened upon several hares. They were more concerned with each other than us, so we were able to approach quite closely. Whilst we didn't witness any "boxing", there was sufficient activity to confirm that the wheel of the year is turning to favour the goddess Eastre and life is once more springing from the Earth. [Contented scribbly sigh]

Bohemian Wax-ody

It's been a rather quiet week for me, wildlife wise, with the sole exception of a Goldeneye on the M6 Toll. Well, in one of those pools adjacent to the motorway, that help with the run-off. Made a change from Buzzards.

Then, this morning, we were returning from another fruitless bathroom tile-choosing session, when I realised that the thrush I was trying to identify before we drove passed it was, in fact, not a thrush at all. I see a little silhouette of a bird.

At this juncture, I should add that I wasn't driving, so it was to my dear wife's credit that when I screamed "Waxwing!", she performed an impeccable and swift three-point turn, without so much as a question. Parking up on the opposite side of the road, we sat amazed as pedestrians wandered beneath the tree, without so much as a care for what was perched in it. This was matched by the Waxwing's disdain for the feverish excitement emanating from the 4x4 over the road. Make that 2 Waxwings, there's another one! Magnifico-o-o-o-o!

Now as this was on our patch, less than 500 yards from home, it made it all the more special. I hadn't seen a waxwing for over 30 years, back up North, and our lass had been on the planet even longer without ever spotting one. Not too late, my time has come.

Rushing home for optics, we returned to look up to the skies and see. The birds were sat in a... actually, I don't know what kind of tree it was, very, very frightening. Anyway, there was loads of Mistletoe in it, covered in berries, which is presumably why the waxwings were on the scene.

Pulled my trigger, now they're photographed.