Country diary: a longed-for invasion

Aigas, Highlands: Bohemian waxwings arrive in undulating, chirruping troops, sometimes in their hundredsEvery year, about now, we hope to be invaded. It is one of those highlights in the Highland calendar that everyone even slightly birdy looks forward to. Their arrival is announced on local radio, commented on in the press, and sightings ping into our phones and laptops morning, noon and night.Bohemian waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) arrive in undulating, chirruping troops of a dozen or more, but occasionally in their hundreds. These large groups are called irruptions, and occur when population explosions in Russia and Scandinavia mean that food there is too scarce. Unlike the continental crossbills (Loxia curvirostra), hordes of which are invading Scotland's conifer forests - another irruption - and mixing with our resident birds here at Aigas, waxwings head straight for suburban gardens, industrial estates, town and city centres - anywhere where there are rowan (Sorbus acuparia) or hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) berries to gorge on. Continue reading...