Waxwing

Description:

Waxwing. [Nikon D800. Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR-II @400mm, f/4, 1/1250s, ISO 800] + More about the erratic winter visitor, whose population 'erupts' in some years: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguid... "* Tips of some wing feathers have a series of spikes which look like pieces of bright red wax. * Chief winter food is berries, which it eats 2 to 3 times its own body weight in a day! * In the summer, pairing includes a ritual in which mates pass a fruit or small inedible object back and forth several times until one eats it (if it is a fruit). After this they may copulate. * ERUPTIONS OF ERRATIC WINTER VISITOR: It does not breed in the UK, but is a winter visitor- Just one species breeds in Northern Scandinavia & Siberia and visits the UK erratically in winter (In Britain its arrival is sporadic- Most years, only around 100 birds are seen in Britain & Ireland.). In some years in larger numbers, called 'eruptions', when the population on its breeding grounds gets too big for the food available(poor berry years). During 'eruption years', the number of migrants increase to several thousand individuals. These eruptions are more frequently observed in the last 20years- The previous was in 2010. It is a 'partial migrant' --some birds overwinter in their breeding grounds in Northern Scandinavia and Siberia; some regularly migrate south." + This year, reportedly, around 3000 birds arrived in Britiain from Northern Scandinavia and Russia!: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/g... + wiki : Waxwings are characterised by soft silky plumage. (Bombycilla, the genus name, is an ornothologist's attempt at Latin for "silktail", translating the German name Seidenschwänze.) They have unique red tips to some of the wing feathers, the tips look like sealing wax, and give the group its common name.

Habitat:

Northern Scandinavia & Siberia. Winter visitor to UK & Ireland

Notes:

Finally, after 3 years of going on their trails with the news of their 'erratic/sporadic' arrival in the winter, to catch a glimpse of this uncommon bird, got lucky yesterday! In most years only around 100 individuals reach Britain!. Thanks to Twitter, could get some alerts of local movements around UK!!. So, first successful "Twitter Birding"!- even though you still have to get lucky to cross their path!.. Couldn't believe my luck when I zeroed in on, listening to their shrill high-pitch trilling(to get them, had to rely on "their Twitter" as well;)-- 4 birds in a flock!, with just 1 in an uncluttered background at the top of a tree more than two-stories tall. The long wait of this 'detective' work is worth it, for the excitement when you finally get a glimpse! :)