LANCS: Waxwings make it to Preston.

Waxwing (one of a flock of 54!) in Preston, Lancs 24 November 2008.

Prime Waxwing habitat in Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston.

Well it was only a matter of time wasn't it? A fine crisp morning just seemed perfect for Waxwings locally today. I made an excuse to escape from the office, taking a leisurely walk to the post office and bank listening for any shrill calls overhead. No luck but it was hardly surprising to get the news of some Waxwings in Preston on my return. A flock of 54 had been seen in Ashton (where I'd been looking the past couple of days) so I jumped in the car and headed to their "traditional site" at Stocks Road.

It was no surprise either that on arrival there wasn't a single Waxwing on the Rowan trees. The Mistle Thrushes are very territorial and they'd moved on. It didn't take long to relocate them though and a bunch of these Scandinavian invaders piled into a berry-laden tree as I drove around the neighbourhood.

Waxwings perching in the trees above the car in Preston this morning.

Sure enough there were 54, all perched in one tree at one time. Despite being quite mobile and splitting up at times the Waxwings performed very well indeed.

Let's hope they stick around a while, but at the rate they were stripping the trees of berries today they'll be very mobile and tricky to keep track of.