Colin and Sheila,
As a Waxwing enthusiast and since Sleaford is only 20 minutes' drive down the road from Bracebridge Heath, I couldn't resist your invitation "to find myself in the area" today (11.45 - 12.45 ) in search of the reported Waxwings.
I arrived by the level crossing Signal Box at 11.45 and decided to park on the opposite side of the road on the (safe) muddy verge just by the 2 target Hawthorns - so as to get a grandstand view if any Waxwings arrived. One lone bird flew in at c. 12.00, chomped a few berries and flew off. I thought that may be my lot, but a few minutes later 14 Waxwings flew in, by which time the drizzle had more or less stopped.
When they left, I stayed at the site until 12.45 but no more appeared. There are still plenty of berries left, especially on the lower branches,so the birds should stay around for a few days.I enjoyed the challenge of locating the site and seeing these weally welcome and wonderfully watchable winter wisiting wayfarers aka Waxwings.
If travelling from Lincoln/BBH, it is probably easier to take the Sleaford Bypass, turn left at Grantham Road and then take the 4th road left into King Edward Street.
Thanks again, Colin and Sheila, for the invitation.
Regards,
Freddy
PS. Thanks also for forwarding me the Lee Evans article from Chris Bell (who alerted us to the Lincoln Railway Station Waxwings on 1st January) with those superb photos - including a number by GPC and Will Bowell. I'll email Chris with thanks. As Lee notes, after a complete crop failure notified by Scandinavian observers in early October, it came as no real surprise when large numbers of Waxwings started arriving in Northern Britain in mid-October (including a flock of 1200 in Aberdeen), but soon moving South, even to Sleaford, LINCS.
