Baltic

A trip to Maud Terrace in West Allotment, to photograph Waxwings, was a chilling experience. I arrived to find 25 birds in a ringer's mist net. After assisting in extracting and bagging them, I stood with a couple of photographers waiting for the birds to return to feed on the Rowan berries. It was a fruitless wait, and only prolonged by a kind resident who popped out with a much needed cup of coffee.

The birds kept promising to land but a Mistle Thrush was on guard, and after two hours I was  hypothermic.

As a consolation I snapped a few garden visitors before beelining for a hot lamb casserole.

End of the road for Waxwing

My mate Paul was walking the streets of Whitley Bay today (he's a postman) and he saw a 'colourful bird get attacked by crows'. Here's a picture he took on his phone.

The harsh reality of the wild

More Waxers!

Waxer!

Waxwing

I'm lost for words. Shot taken at ASDA in Ashington today.

Waxers

While sorting 'my room' this morning I found a DV tape. On it I found some video of Waxwings in my street last March (09), filmed from the attic 'hide'.



Wonder what else I'll find?

Beauty

Got along to Ashington's Nursery Estate yesterday and managed to get the Waxwings on Video, but no for long! Everytime they landed either a pair of Mistle Thrush would chase them, a car would come round the corner or a postman would pass by. Good crack with the other birders who had made the effort to see these beautiful birds. If only they were in my garden like they were last year (50 on 30th Mar 09).

If you hear a Thrush Nightingale singing in the video, don't burn rubber to Ashington, it's just my phone :)



And finally, a beautiful and uplifting set of photos put to music by fellow blogger Tyne to Tweed: