Saturday 19 January 2013

Gillingham Waxwings (Again)

The task set before us today was to try and locate Waxwing; particularly as Brenda had not been with me last Tuesday when I happened luckily on a few as I made my way to the railway station at Gillingham. Knowing that there had been a small group at Lower Halstow as recently as Thursday, we made our way to the brickfields and carefully set about the search. Eventually I managed a quick view of a single bird that unfortunately eluded Brenda's gaze! Taking time out for a welcome cream tea at the nearby 'Barge' we searched again after, but no further sightings were made. Other species seen around the area included: Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Redwing (8), Fieldfare (15), Bullfinch (1) and Brent Goose (c80).

A slow drive home keeping an eye out for Waxwings seemed like a reasonable plan, so we decided to take a route via where I'd seen them Tuesday, little expecting them to still be around! I had not realised that there was as plentiful food source in the area as there clearly must have been, for as we pulled up near the junction, we were surprised to count six Waxwings calling and feeding at the junction of Sturdee Avenue and Barnsole Road around the school grounds. We captured a few record shots in very poor light, attracting some strange looks from passing cars and pedestrians, some of whom enquired as to what we were looking at of interest!

Waxwings

Waxwings

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