Waxwings a bird from north and eastern europe. Birds are seen in varying numbers from year to year. Last winter hardly any were recorded locally. This year looks to be a bumper year for the species. The last big Waxwing winter was in 2012/13.
A waxwing is Starling size, pastel reddish buff colour with a shaggy crest, yellow-tipped tail and black eye mask and chin. They get their name waxwing from the red waxy nodules on their wing weathers. their song is a pleasant high-pitched tinkling bell sound.
Your best chance of seeing these spectacular birds in Kinross and Milnathort is keeping an eye on your local rowan trees. The trees have had a good crop of berries locally but other birds like Blackbirds, Starlings, Fieldfares and Redwings have all been gorging on the berries after long migration flights from the continent.
There are good number of trees with berries on in Kinross with birds already reported from Sutherland Drive, Lathro Park, Ochil View and Bowton Road from last Thursday onwards. The highest count so far has been 70 from Sutherland Drive.
Keep an eye out on the blog. We’ll keep you posted where the best place to see them is.
This is the only image I’ve been able to capture this year in tricky windy conditions today. Hopefully there will be many other chances as the winter season progresses.
