Seven Churches - Nature Notes

This year’s nature notes will take on a different form as each month I will focus on one
or two species that are in evidence at that time. This month’s focus will be on one of our
winter avian visitors, the Waxwing.
Waxwings hail from northern regions of Scandinavia where they spend the spring and
summer months. Normally in the winter, as the berry crops dwindle, some head for our
shores, and due to the easterly location of Norfolk it is not unusual to see them from time to time. However, an invasion of waxwings has been reported nationwide this winter.
Every few years such an “irruption” occurs, and it seems to be a bit of a riddle as to why
it does so. In the 17th century these mass migrations gave rise to much superstition and
fear. It was thought that Waxwings would bring disaster wherever they turned up, and
indeed in Holland they are still called “plague birds.” According to more conventional
folklore, the worst we can expect following their arrival is a cold harsh winter, an old
wives’ tale that I am tempted to hold with this winter! Modern scientific approaches
suggest that it is due to a good breeding season being followed by a poor crop of berries
in Northern Europe. Whatever the reason, Norfolk has been playing host to its fair share.
I have seen good sized flocks on Matlaske airfield, at Squalham and between Wolterton
and Calthorpe, making short work of any remaining berries they can find. Having
stripped the countryside trees and shrubs of their berries they are also often being seen
in the towns around our parish boundary attracted to the orange and red-berried shrubs
planted in car parks and gardens in Holt, Aylsham and Cromer.
They are predominantly a pale chestnut-brown colour with a paler pinkish-brown
breast. But what makes these small birds stand out is a crested plume on its head above
a black eye mask. If lucky enough to see one at close quarters, (which is surprisingly
easy as they are not particularly timid birds,) you can also see yellow, white, black and
red markings on their wing tips. It is the red wing tips that give them their name,
appearing as if their wings have been dipped in sealing wax. In all they are a real beauty
and bring a touch of the exotic to warm our hearts on these cold winter days.