Languard produces a Waxwing

Morning start at Holland Haven today.

There had been reports of 1-2 Long-eared Owls roosting at this site throughout much of last week.

On arrival we meet one of the regular patch workers, who gives us some good directions as to where we should be looking for the L.E.O.

After a good scan of the bushes there's no owl to be found. A good view of the resident Little Owl in it's usual tree is a consolation as is a Lesser Redpoll feeding close by on thistle heads.

A Sparrowhawk puts the pigeons up and gives good views as it flies overhead. The bushes around this area hold large numbers of Blackbirds. They seem to be everywhere I look. A Green Woodpecker lands on a telegraph pole and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flies across heading for nearby trees. Redwings and Fieldfares are seen in good numbers.

Further along the track a Goldcrest is seen and then a Grey Wagtail is seen on the roof of one of the containers.

Waxwing 

From here it's off to Languard and a wander along the perimeter of the observatory. 

As with Holland Haven large numbers of Blackbirds are seen. The ringing teams must have been kept busy just with this species being caught.

A Firecrest is found in the trees above the mist nets,  There's a Goldcrest seen in the beach side bushes and then dad calls me over to have a look at a bird he's found.

It's quickly found to be a Waxwing and dad is not only happy to have found it but also to add it to his year list.

I also need it for the year, having missed this species at the start of the year. It's a single bird and it's busy feeding on blackberries.

Dad is the only one who had braved taking the camera with him in the constant drizzly rain, so he tries to get a record shot of the bird (one of which is on the right), while myself and Brian head for the comfort of the car.