I have been waiting for the chance to photograph Waxwings here in Devon since the "invasion' began a few weeks ago. Then, as planned we went up north to Yorkshire on Tuesday and guess what, Waxwings arrived in Devon during my week away!!!   Not to be out done though, on the way back to Devon we had always planned a stop overnight in South Wales and I thought this would give me my best opportunity, and this proved correct. Ebbw  Vale is a little Welsh Village in the valleys.  Waxwings had been reported "in front of the Leisure Centre" there and this was all I needed come Sunday morning.  I know this part of the world  a little having visited several times over the years so I climbed in to the car and made my way from Newport,  full of enthusiasm. I arrived 30 minutes later after a snowy journey and immediately noticed a likely looking tree just by the main doors. It was a species of Rowan, or Mountain Ash, laden with lovely berries and I just knew that this was probably where they had been feeding.  There was a Song Thrush and several Blackbirds feeding on the juicy fruit, but disappointingly, no Waxwings.  Oh well, I had missed them again and I wasn't too surprised or down beat.  I went in to the Leisure centre to use the facilities and when I came out…….. there was a Waxwing, in the tree feeding just where I had imagined it to be.  I rushed to my car for the camera and went back……… no sign of it! I have began to imagine that I had mistaken it but to cut a long story short, eventually I found them again, perched in a tree very close to my car now.  I was pleased to watch them and take some photos as the rested in the tree and then fed again on the Mountain Ash.  It could have been better in the photo department but I finished up with a few decent photos and I was quite pleased in the end.  After a while, something called out and alarm call and they left in a small flock of 7 and disappeared out of view over the houses opposite. 

I am sure that I will get the opportunity to photograph more Waxwings this winter. So far we have had a  massive influx from the continent and as I said earlier, they have started to show up in Devon in small numbers, can't wait to see where next!