Winter waxwings are hopefully heading our way

IF anyone passing my garden the other day was wondering why I was picking up windfall apples beneath my tree and sticking them on a couple of upright bamboo canes alongside, I can explain...

An extremely striking looking bird from northern Europe is currently heading our way in numbers, and likes nothing more than apples and berries – though less so if they are on the ground.

The species has a creamy-caramel plumage, a punk-rocker quiff, black face mask and yellow in the wings along with a few distinctive redtipped feathers. It is called the waxwing, and only visits the UK in winter.

Waxwings typically turn up in Britain in small numbers. But some years a population explosion or shortage of food in their Scandinavian breeding grounds forces them to head elsewhere to seek food. And experts reckon this is going to be a great winter for waxwings in the UK.

Already flocks have turned up in Scotland and northern England, and as they fan out plenty will surely make it to the West Country. All being well, some will spot the juicy red apples stuck aloft like Christmas baubles in my garden, and pay a visit.

I have never seen a waxwing in my neck of the woods. They did come close many years ago – being recorded in a tree outside a school a few miles away.

The last time I spotted one was a while back in Exeter, boldly wolfing down bright red berries in a suburban street. It has been a particularly good autumn for hawthorn berries, according to the Woodland Trust, so there will be no shortage of food for winter migrant birds.

If you have a berry bush or apple tree in your vicinity it is well worth keeping a look out just in case these spectacular plump, starling-sized birds drop by.

If all else fails, you could try hanging up a few apples to see if that works. Let me know if you have any luck.

Frank Vassen > A distinctive waxwing