Brian Harding wrote:

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awesome waxwing pictures mr.dixon. what camera and lense/scope do you use? Id love to take pics like that.

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Thanks very much for your kind Comments Brian.
I used a Nikon D80 with Sigma 500mm lens for these shots.

Regards
Anthony.

awesome waxwing pictures mr.dixon. what camera and lense/scope do you use? Id love to take pics like that.

Had a look today at Woodley precinct about 1.00pm and no waxwings for half an hour so followed Rob Smallwood's advice and had a look around the estate across the road.
There were 40+ waxwings on the rowan berries at the juction of Oldham Drive and Coppage Drive just a short walk away. Tended to go back and forth between the berries and the tall Poplar trees not far away
They were very approachable and some not much more than head-hieght and a few feet away!
Thanks for the suggestion Rob!
Steve

-- Edited by Steve Collins at 17:36, 2009-01-01

Oh you found them Geoff, I'd just come on to tell you that I'd posted some pictures!
Still got loads to go through, so will update my site in the next day or two.

Anyway, this morning was truly magical watching the birds by the side of the Lowes Arms.
After a long period of silence and after the birds had departed, one gentleman out of the group of 10 or so of us observing simply said "Happy New Year"...Kind of summed the mood up perfectly.

Thanks Anthony

There were 5 on the right hand tree in the Precinct at 10.30am, and then approx 50 roosting in the tree at the rear of the Lowes Arms (Across the car park with your back to the Precinct.)

At least 10 other birders around.

There are still a fair number of berries left, so people could be lucky if they go down today.

-- Edited by Geoff Walton at 11:16, 2009-01-01

Just one in the precinct at 08:30 this morning. But gets the year list off with a bang, thank you for the info.

Hi Anthony,
The guy I saw, was not using a tripod - light coloured lens, and he was wearing a woolly hat. We were only there between 10.45 and 11am

Are you going to post your pictures on your web site at all? - they would be nice to see

Agree it was a good viewing session. I said to my friend, that it would be harder to get a closer better view than that.

Might try and be there at 10.30 tomorrow.

-- Edited by Geoff Walton at 23:05, 2008-12-31

Hi Geoff, I was there again with camera and tripod...Much better day for photographs than yesterday with near perfect light late morning.
Stunning views.

Must admit that these Woodley Waxwings have been one of my best ever birding expeirences and the way that these beautiful birds have caught the imagination of the locals (of all ages) is truly wonderful.

Hi Richard,

A combination of "we three" were there at 10.45, and we estimated 100 so happy with 91
A lot were in the tree behind the main road opposite the Precinct, and flew over just after we arrived.

Were any of you the one with the camera on the lens? We were two and a lady.

Might pop down tomorrow am just to see .

We were on our way to Anglezarke. Fog, fog and yet more fog - still had a two hour walk.

Thanks for the help - just got back. A count of 91 birds in their "resting" tree at the side of the Woodley Arms. A couple of Mistle Thrushes guarding one of the trees in the precinct, but seemingly reduced to chasing each other, as numbers of Waxwings overwhelmed them. Berry stocks seem to be running out in the precinct, so they may well be moving on soon. Count at about 1300, the majority moved to a tree opposite Bhajis takeaway, which itself is opposite the pub, about 1330. They left about 1335, flying east.

Plenty there watching, locals knew of them, and if they didn't they were asking questions.

Woodley precinct is the shopping precint on A560 - a couple of big berry trees by shops and also on the estate on the other side of the main road so if not at the shops its worth a scout around.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idmap.srf?x=393500&y=392500&z=120&sv=393500,392500&st=4&ar=N&mapp=idmap.srf&searchp=ids.srf&ax=394500&ay=392500&lm=0


Pete - from memory there is a public footpath alongside WHGS between it and the park?

First posting. although I've been lurking for a while. I have a yen to chase the Waxwings at Woodley Precinct, but would appreciate more info on the location please.

Thanks for the quick response on the gen Judith.

A non-birder M.O.P. (member of the public) in the pub (who I've never met before) this evening described a flock of 40+ birds feeding on Rowan berries in the grounds of William Hulmes Grammer School on Princess Parkway, Fallowfield (A5103), which must be Waxwings and still present today, though may be difficult to view from public access. I'll have a peek tommorow if poss, though Iwouldn't be surprised if these had flown and joined the Woodley precint birds

A very quick reply from Rayond Duncan up in Aberdeen. Pete's was ringed in Allenvale Cemetery Aberdeen 11th Nov 2008, and Antony's at Dyce, nr Aberdeen, 13th Nov 2008.
Keep looking for those coloured leg rings, folks!

I have sent these colours rings of Antony's and Pete's to Ray Duncan who does the ringing. But looks like he's already got yours. Pete?

Nice to meet you today Pete.
I've not had chance to look through all my photos yet, but have come across one bird that has a lime green ring on the right leg and dark green and yellow rings on the left.

Will update if I find anymore.

Waxwings at Woodley precint swelled to c84 by 12.55. One bird had a yellow ring above a white ring on the left leg. I didn't get to see the right leg. I've reported it to those tracking them anyway. Awaiting news.

20 reported by Birdguides by the A34 at Stanley Green retail park Handforth today

12.30pm - 20+ in Woodley Precinct and later at around 1pm oppsite Marina Road.

More than likely the same flock?

Hi guys..

Birdguides reports...
Gtr. Manchester - Middleton

"19 waxwings in hedge between the canal and Stakefield Industrial Estate viewable from the towpath this afternoon " yesterday

Regards

Les

A busy round of domestic duties today, plus running an amateur taxi service, but when driving through Adswood I found 3 Waxwings on a Rowan on Garner's Lane by the junction with Rostherne Road (near Adswood School)

Cheers, John

16 Waxwings back at Lowercroft , Bury 11.00a.m.

20 still in Offerton at St.Johns Wood Estate this morning though mobile

Info thanks to Birdnet Information Pagers

35 in St, John's Wood estate, in trees overlooking the Learning Disability Centre.
Shown the exit by irate Mistle Thrush after a short stay.

They seem to drop to feed in the gardens, and then return to the tall trees by the LBC when disturbed. There is also a site on the opposite side of the main road with a few rowan berries remaining.

Hopefully, they'll stick around: the normal pattern here is for the flock gradually to increase in size. I have had 80-100 birds here in the past.

Single Waxwing on Back Hall Street (Behind MAC Building Products) Offerton 10.am this morning.

All 19 are still together in one flock. Re-found at 14.45 in the middle of Tanhill Close on the Offerton Estate.

19 this morning in Offerton at entrance to St John's Wood estate - one of the predicted sites.

4 Waxwings still present on Lower Bents Lane, opposite Marina Road in Bredbury this morning at around 11.40, feeding on the berry bush and resting on the lamp post inbetween.

The Waxwings at Caldershaw were at Willowmead Way nr the Turf Inn which I suspect is on Caldershaw Rd. The info was from Chris Johnson's father.

16 Waxwings briefly in my garden at Lowercroft, Bury at 12.15 but driven from a neighbouring rowan tree by mistle thrushes, who, to be fair, have been guarding the berries since October.

Late news for yesterday

13 Waxwings on Willowmead Road, Caldershaw, Turf Inn

Info thanks to Judith Smith

3 flycatching from the lampost all afternoon to just before dusk when they flew towards Woodley presumably to roost.

Good to see Paul Hackett out and about again, and a good sprinkling of interested locals, including one person who asked me if we were waiting for an eclipse - clearly a duck fanatic?!

5 at Lower Bents Lane, on lamp post, opposite Marina Drive at 10.05, they stayed for 5 mins before flying away.

3 at the same place at noon today, but none at Woodley precinct yet. Only round the corner from me, so will keep looking at Woodley this week.

Song Thrush in the precinct, and a Redwing in the trees behind the houses at the rear of the precinct.

-- Edited by Geoff Walton at 13:57, 2008-12-21

4 on Lower Bents Lane, Bredbury opposite Marina Road this morning.

17/12/2008 (14.35 - 14 55)

5 Waxwings behind the church on Old Hall Drive, Offerton (this may be the wigwam church that Rob referred to. I failed to get the name but I presume it's St John's). They tried to feed on the yellow berry trees at the back of the church but were quickly moved on by a noisy Mistle Thrush. They then settled in a tree in the church car park before disappearing at 14.55 over the A626 towards Hall Pool Drive Estate.

Managed to see these by bike today so they are now on my very local 'cycle from home' list which stands at 110 this year (all within 5 miles of my house).

Cheers, John

Hi Rob,

From Golden Hind go down Lisburn Lane, 1st left into Crosthwaite Rd, 1st left into Half Moon Drive and its at the bottom on RHS.

I'd already checked the 'Birds Estate' and St John's Wood earlier this PM and nowt there. These birds flew with Starlings in the Lisburn Lane direction, presumably to roost, so Henry Street might be worth a look but not that many berries to keep them there.

Cheers, John

Is Otterburn Place near the church that looks like a tent/wigwam?

If so I've seen them there before and they were commuting to St John's Wood over the A626 - so that might be worth checking.

Robert Adderley wrote:

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Sat 13/12/08

A single feeding on Apples at Otterburn Place, Offerton mid morning before being flushed by Blackbirds.

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Tuesday 16/12/08 15.00

I went on another tour of all the Offerton berry trees this afternoon and found 3 Waxwings, together with 4 Blackbirds and 15 Starlings, feeding on apples at Otterburn Place.

However, within minutes I was accosted by 2 community police officers on pushbikes who wanted to know what I was up to with binoculars. When they checked my car they said they were looking for someone else with bins and not me. A resident had reported a suspicious bloke, so someone else must have been there shortly before me. I asked them to explain to whoever had reported in that birders were looking at birds in trees and not through windows and they said they would, but if anyone else goes down be aware of the sensitivities of the residents.

Cheers, John


-- Edited by John Rayner at 17:22, 2008-12-16

is it a particularly good year this year for waxwings? or is it normal to get so many sightings?

3 Waxwings this Afternoon New Springs Allotments

info thanks to Tom Morton

could these be from Swinley

A pair of Waxwings flew over the EMR scrapyard alongside Liverpool street in Salford today at 2.25pm.

Gordon Yates had 7 Waxwings in Smalley St., Castleton on 12th but gone 13th.

There were 6 at the top of a fir tree yesterday behind 22 Duke St, Swinley, Wigan. Lotsof berries in the vicarage garden opposite 22. But the birds may be feeding in the gardens of Duke St (not visible). They then perch in the top of the fir tree to digest them.

Paul Owen wrote:

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Reported sightings on Birdguides from Wigan. Anyone know the exact location.
Paulo

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According to Birdguides "three in Swinley early morning only" today. A couple of days ago also on Birdguides was "two in Swinley in a garden on Duke Street".

Reported sightings on Birdguides from Wigan. Anyone know the exact location.
Paulo

3 Briefly early this morn but no sign of any 11:30 at Swinley

No sign of any there at the minute...

Judith Smith wrote:

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on Edinburgh Way behind RRG (whatever that is) .

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Toyota car dealers (RRG rochdale)