When I was washing up one dull midwinter’s day, I wasn’t expecting a ‘wow’ moment. But a quick glance out the window merited a double take. There, just a few metres away, perched on a branch, was a waxwing: a rare bird I’d long hoped to see. I say ‘perched’, but maybe ‘posed’ was a better description – this bird exuded vibes akin to a flamboyant ’80s popstar, and all but said “Look at me!”
Waxwings are winter visitors to the UK. Sturdy-looking and similar in length to starlings, they’re mainly pinkishbuff in colour, but have a black stripe across the eyes like a mask, a black throat, and a prominent crest. The tail and wings have black and yellow details. Lastly, their upper wing feathers have scarlet tips, from…
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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, January 2025