I got a call from Byker yesterday that there were waxwings eating the berries on the heavily laden trees there. Lo and behold, there they were: about 60 waxwings, as well as several red-wings munching away on the red berries.

Waxwings are beautiful birds and come here in winter most years from Scandinavia. Big flocks are called ‘irruptions’ and turn up in the UK when the breeding population in their native homeland outstrips the demand for food. They come and strip all the berries from bushes and trees and move on to the next area.

I went back there this morning and they’d gone. Just like that!