The Lincolnshire Bird Club

8 Waxwings located in the tall trees behind the Texaco Garage on Outer Circle Road opposite the Carlton Centre at 1.00pm today (Sat). The birds then flew to the Silver Birches at the side of MacDonalds and at c 1.15 they flew down to feast on the only remaining (orange) berries behind MacDonalds. (The 5th Rowan to the right from the main Car Park.)

A few minutes later, the Waxwings flew back to the trees behind the Texaco Garage and they were still there when I left the area at c 1.30pm.

Note. On 9th November, I saw my first Waxwings (7) of the winter behind MacDonalds. Various numbers have been reported there on and off since.

Regards,

Freddy

A note from Chris Bell:

80 + Waxwings,mistle thrush,song thrush at Lincoln Station.

Have noted on your website these waxwings mentioned several times. Well they are still there in 2011.
Also noted at the Cathedral Peregrine and Grey Wagtail.

It would be useful to know if the Waxwings were flyovers or perched somewhere (and where exactly). If perched, and Chris Bell's, "Well they are still there..." suggests to me that they were, then besides the depleted/finished stock of berries in

Tentercroft Street (by the large public Car Park) and
High Street (by the Magistrates Courts)

does anyone know of the location of a further source of berries/apples in the general "Lincoln Station" area that would have attracted 80+ Waxwings today?
Waxwings are such regular and voracious berry/apple chompers, 80+ are possibly but unlikely to be on a reconnaissance mission or just sightseeing in the area......they've got to eat somewhere local.


I'll check the area out tomorrow, as I'm in Lincoln anyway.

Regards,

Freddy
PS. I did check the area out around midday on Thu 30 Dec but without success.

Re question raised by Freddy,

At 1500 hours the majority of the c80 were perched in the tall tree at the
junction of the church grounds and the rail "staff car park" entrance,
with some in adjacent trees. Some were feeding on the berry bush adjacent
to the station building.
(Possibly of interest, approx 12 were on a small ,apparently bare, bush,
alongside the rail track, which might have been a buddlia).

As we were leaving (to eat) at about 1510, about 50 of the flock flew East.

Is there a collective name for Waxwings? A" Wealth "seems appropriate at
the moment.

I note that the reported numbers at Sheffield seems to have decreased
recently.
Coincident with this has been an increase in the reported number in
greater Nottingham.

Regards


Chris Bell

I've just got back home from Lincoln (it's 11.30), having seen the Waxwing flock at Lincoln Railway Station and before reading Chris Bell's follow up post. There they were in the Station forecourt, perched in a tall Plane tree and then flying down to the berry tree below. I counted 34 (10.50 - 11.05), before a traffic noise spooked them and they flew off in the direction of the Brayford Pool.

The berry tree is just inside the Station forecourt (on the right) when one is coming from the High Street and it still has masses of juicy red berries, so the Waxwings should hang around for a day or so at least.

If you are reading this post, Chris, thanks for the info.

Regards,

Freddy

1 still at Outer Circle Road - Mc Donalds 9:00am before the Mistle Thrushes barged in and it flew off West

_________________
http://birdmanbirds.blogspot.com/

No sign of any at the Carlton Centre between 2pm and 2.15. The flock at the railway station obliged however. I counted 39 birds to 2.45 at least. The flock was quite fluid with birds arriving and departing all the while I counted and I suspect that I may have under-counted if anything.

Nice to meet Hugh Middleton and to put a face to the name.

A nice year tick to start with!!

More shopping Sun pm, so another chance to visit the Railway Station forecourt.
Getting on for 3 o'clock, the numbers built up considerably to somewhere approaching the 80+ again - as I mentioned to Hugh M. before he left. Perhaps the berries wont last so long with such numbers. However at c.3.00pm, the main flock took off SW.
Nice also to meet up with LBC member Mark Hughes.

Regards,

Freddy

There were still 12 Waxwings hanging around the Railway Station forecourt at 1.00pm on Tuesday 4th Jan, but as far as I could see most of the berries had gone.

Regards,

Freddy

I have a good half an hour look just now and none present in station or court areas so far (just having a coffee at the mo, will check again in a bit)

_________________
JH Birding
http://jhbirding.blogspot.com

John,
The last Lincoln Railway Station Waxwings were reported on Wed 7th Jan - and even then the berries on the tree in the Station forecourt had more or less all gone. I checked (without much hope, of seeing a lost/stray Waxwing ) on drive-pasts on Thu, Fri and this morning but nothing to report.

I've just posted news on this website (c.1.35pm Sat), re 9 Waxwings behind the Medical Centre at the Moor Road/Newark Road traffic lights in North Hykeham which I saw at 11.50 this morning _ it's only a 10 minute drive from Lincoln Centre.

Regards,

Freddy