Waxwings

February so far has been very grey. Saturday 2nd was beautiful, but we were out almost all day and could only enjoy it from the car. So, when I had to go down to get some fresh vegetables and meat on Friday, it was so dull that I made a deliberate decision not to bother with a camera. And I was nearly at the shops when I some birds that I thought were starlings, but they were flying in a very unusual flight pattern. When I looked more closely, I could see crests! More waxwings, and a whole treeful this time. I ran all the way back to the house, expecting that they'd probably be gone before I could get back again.
And they had, but I spotted this loner silhouetted against the sky in a tree on the other side of the road.

And then, after I'd posted my letter and done my shopping, I found another whole tree full of them in the car park between the school and the community centre. I was able to closer, too. But because of the grey weather, they're still not great photos. At least this time, though, I could clearly see not just the yellow but the red markings on the wings. I always remember about those from a Maggie Muggins story.

C, who did the shopping yesterday, went armed with the spotting scope but came back disappointed, having only seen goldfinches, chaffinches and blue tits.I hope he gets to see some soon before they migrate onwards again.


I usually wait till the end of the month before picking any cards to upload. But I had enormous fun making this one, even though it's hard to imagine finding an opportunity to use it. It was good therapy on a dull day when I was still getting over a bad cold, and had gone back to work too soon.