They come here from the north in hordes, roosting on coastal mudflats & moving inland to feed in daytime. Large skeins fly high & straggly, calling. The sight of a flock rising from the mud at dawn on a cold winter morning is worth a special visit.
Waxwings – buff plumage, punky crest, yellow flashes on tail & wings – are ACE. Some years they come in huge numbers from Scandinavia, looking for berries. Rowan's a favourite, so look in your Lidl car park come November. 📷Algirdas commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Algi…
Another big irrupter, these groovy finches have the biggest beaks around and can exert enough pressure with them to crack a cherry stone. Coming to a mature broadleaf wood near you soon, with any luck. 📷 Martin Mecnarowski photomecan.eu
The most famous of the large-gathering birds. If you’ve never seen a starling murmuration, make it a priority this winter. Breathaking. The best-known are probably on the Somerset Levels, but there are plenty of others. A short list here. wildlifetrusts.org/where_to_see_s…