Waxwings - a rare treat

I'm not a birder in any real sense but it's been hard not to get caught up in the excitement of a waxwing irruption.

This pretty little bird is a very uncommon visitor to Buckinghamshire but we've been lucky to have a small flock of around twenty or so visiting this area this past week. Wherever they turn up, a gaggle of eager twitchers and local photographers is soon on scene.

The last Waxwing irruption occurred in 2016. They happen when food is short in the bird's usual environment (northern Europe and Scandinavia). One local resident told the Bucks Free Press newspaper that the birds had been a regular sight for 'around 10 days', feeding in the area. They have even been noticed curiously interacting with Christmas lights, possibly mistaking them for bright berries, their usual food. 

Images posted on local Facebook groups by Graham Smith, Paul Dumpleton and Paul Roberts.