Having such ethereal birds just down the road from me it would be mad to turn up a chance to return to see them again. They were still hanging around the shopping centre at Whiteley where the fruits on the trees were plentiful.
Sarah and I were returning on the Sunday because we were seeing a film at the cinema there. It was still a little overcast however so I only rattled off another 400 shots!
The next day was a Monday with clear blue skies, so much better for photography. I had a spare couple of hours off work in the afternoon, so I took the opportunity while they were still there.
Towards the end of the week I had another chance so again took it while I could. I might not see them again for a long time.
I found them in their favourite haunts around the shopping centre. Either behind the cinema in the bushes eating the rosehips or roosting in the birch trees next to the leisure centre or in the middle of the square right next to the shops. All around people went about their business giving people like myself with binoculars and large cameras odd looks that spoke volumes...'What's with the weirdos crowding round those trees?' The birds seemed totally unconcerned at any of us, as ever...
It has been suggested that the group of five birds are a family unit. The adult male here has a larger crest than the others. Plus it's secondary feathers on the end of the wing have more colour with the prominent white flecks leading from the yellow line.
The difference is clearer here with the male on the right and female on the left. Also the black throat pouch on the male has more complete definition.
This is a juvenile with a shorter crest and less colouring on the wing.
The backdrop of the shopping centre buildings gave such diversity of colour that enhanced and contributed to the beauty of the Waxwings as they gorged themselves on the berry crop.
They sat in the trees outside Wagamamas and quite brazenly ate the berries in front of the human consumers.
It was quite a bizarre scenario. I'm normally used to walking with nature in natural surroundings yet here I was circling a shopping arcade full of concrete, bricks and glass with the few trees that are spread about. Like so many places like this, the trees are berry producing and a lifeline to these porcelain like creatures. This created a real battle in my head. What was being consumed in the shopping centre contributes to the downfall of this earth, yet the wildlife uses it as a lifeline for survival. I wonder who will win ?
They are so confiding, I couldn't help but indulge myself, so forgive me for the number of photos on this post. Just amazing creatures.....
Some fruits were a little large, which produced quite a challenge to digest.
I followed them round and round. They would settle for a while in one place then without much warning except for a few shrill whistles they would depart to another part of the shopping centre.
They would pick a berry and almost swallow, then regurgitate, turn it, swallow, regurgitate and swallow again.
Many shoppers would shuffle up, one saying to the other, 'Go on you ask him, no he's busy taking pictures I won't disturb him' and finally 'What birds are they?!' they would ask
I carried on snapping away,taking shots from different angles, trying to get a different background to enhance the subject each time.
Four visits and nearly 1000 shots later I left them and wished them well. They had left me spellbound in their beauty and I wondered where their next step would take them. Further south to the continent or back home to Scandinavia and Russia perhaps to breed? It was still early in the season so I imagined them heading into the western sunset in search of more fruit.
They did hang around for a few days after but have since departed.
Five birds had given so much pleasure to all walks of life and for a brief moment in time brought people together in wonder and enjoyment. I do hope I see them very soon.
The title of this post is an excerpt taken from the poem 'Where the Waxwings Used to Dwell' by Velimir Khlebnikov
