Bohemian Waxwings at Edenreagh, Cliffoney, Co. Sligo, Ireland

These Bohemian Waxwings were filmed by Séamus Feeney as they fed on ripe berries in a roadside Hawthorn hedge at Edenreagh, Cliffoney - along the main Sligo-Donegal road. These birds are not commonly seen in Ireland. In some winters, such as this one, a combination of a good breeding season in Scandinavia and northern Russia, with suitable weather results in a mass movement southward, with some flocks reaching as far west as Ireland. The birds are very approachable, and as the soundtrack to this clip shows, are not bothered by passing traffic on a busy road.

Visit BirdWatch Sligo's website at:

http://www.sligobirding.com

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• waxwings
• birds
• birdwatch
• sligo
• edenreagh
• cliffoney
• ireland
• seamus
• feeney

[kiaoragin]

These birds are quite similar looking to the Cedar Waxwings I've seen in San Francisco. Are these birds only on the west coast of or are they all over Ireland? I never seen them during my days in Ireland.

[sligobirding]

Cedar Waxwings are closely related to Bohemian Waxwings but only found on the other side of the Atlantic. Bohemian Waxwings also occur in North America.

Bohemian Waxwings are not common in Ireland, but in"Waxwing winters" (which this winter is), a population explosion or a food shortage (or both) force the birds further south and west of their normal north European wintering areas.

[Skalar300]

Very nicely! First-class admission!

[magnumlady]

They are lovely, I've seen a couple of these...didn't know what they were though.

[myjugsarehuge]

Beautiful birds, I saw one once in the UK feeding on Rowan berries. I'll keep my eyes peeled down here in Cork.

[Ptarmi]

Just watched a small flock of appx 50 Waxwings, this very afternoon, in Ballycastle, Co Antrim. This is the first time I've been lucky enough to see them up here in 16 years!

I only wish I had brought my camera with me! :-(