(Bohemian) Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus
2012 was another good winter for visiting Waxwings with flocks appearing throughout the season. 2011 was a poor year for visiting birds of this species but in 2010 there were many sizeable flocks seen in this area. After a bird in Thornton on 9th January, there was just one big flock seen: 100 birds in Keighley six days later. Other reports to 30th April were of 15 birds, at best. A large national invasion in the second winter period brought much bigger numbers. Late October had an initial sighting of 50 birds at Barden Scale, 60 at Crossflatts, up to 70 in Keighley, and 82 in Ben Rhydding. By November, the Keighley flock had increased to 100, and 120 were in Ilkley, but the only three-figure December gathering was 100 in Manningham around the 13th, though there were good counts of 50 in Allerton, and up to 71 in Bingley. Birds were still present to the year-end, and the reports had included smaller flocks at 11 other widespread locations in Wharfedale, Airedale, the Worth Valley and Bradford.
Here are four photos taken during the Waxwings previous invasions.
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Photograph by Stephen Lilley of a Waxwing in Bingley, West Yorkshire, in 2010.
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