thetreehunter
Waxwing Trees Ecclesall Rd Margeret Hines #gtos17
Nominated By Margeret Hines...Waxwings are attractive birds found in large numbers in the UK every few years.
They are winter visitors from Northern Scandinavia and Siberia, appearing irregularly when the weather in their native habitat is particularly cold or their food source cannot sustain their numbers. In some winters they erupt west from Northern Scandinavia in what are known as ‘Waxwing Winters’ when large flocks move south through the country as winter progresses. The main sources of their winter diet are berries such as rowan, hawthorn and cotoneaster, often from ornamental trees found in suburban areas by busy roads and in car parks.
Waxwings are wary birds, and won’t spend long in small berry trees. Large flocks congregate in much higher trees and move quickly en masse to lower trees where they will feed frantically. They are easily spooked and will retreat quickly back to the safety of larger trees if they feel threatened.
During ‘Waxwing winters’ they are frequent visitors to Sheffield. It’s possible to almost guarantee them at certain locations in the city such as Manchester Road in Crosspool and Cemetery Avenue adjacent to Ecclesall Road. Over the last two months Waxwings have been seen frequently in both these areas. Examples of this feeding behaviour is obvious; they have been regularly observed in the larger trees near Ecclesall Road prior to moving to feed in the berry trees of Cemetery Avenue, before moving back to the larger trees again. Some of these very trees are earmarked to be destroyed in the near future. This is just one example of the value of these trees to wildlife in the area. Without the presence of these trees the Waxwings are unlikely to feel safe enough to feed in the area.
Waxwing Trees Ecclesall Rd Margeret Hines #gtos17
Nominated By Margeret Hines...Waxwings are attractive birds found in large numbers in the UK every few years.
They are winter visitors from Northern Scandinavia and Siberia, appearing irregularly when the weather in their native habitat is particularly cold or their food source cannot sustain their numbers. In some winters they erupt west from Northern Scandinavia in what are known as ‘Waxwing Winters’ when large flocks move south through the country as winter progresses. The main sources of their winter diet are berries such as rowan, hawthorn and cotoneaster, often from ornamental trees found in suburban areas by busy roads and in car parks.
Waxwings are wary birds, and won’t spend long in small berry trees. Large flocks congregate in much higher trees and move quickly en masse to lower trees where they will feed frantically. They are easily spooked and will retreat quickly back to the safety of larger trees if they feel threatened.
During ‘Waxwing winters’ they are frequent visitors to Sheffield. It’s possible to almost guarantee them at certain locations in the city such as Manchester Road in Crosspool and Cemetery Avenue adjacent to Ecclesall Road. Over the last two months Waxwings have been seen frequently in both these areas. Examples of this feeding behaviour is obvious; they have been regularly observed in the larger trees near Ecclesall Road prior to moving to feed in the berry trees of Cemetery Avenue, before moving back to the larger trees again. Some of these very trees are earmarked to be destroyed in the near future. This is just one example of the value of these trees to wildlife in the area. Without the presence of these trees the Waxwings are unlikely to feel safe enough to feed in the area.