** Waxwing Sighting In Halling.**

I did a bit of birdwatching this morning while drinking my coffee and apart from the usual birds  feeding I had my first male Siskin that I have had for a long time. I did have a female on New Years Day. I thought that it might be a sign that maybe I should go out for a walk even though there was a lot of rain coming down, heavy at times, besides it gave me a excuse to feed the horses.
Nothing special was seen on the way to the river, but scanning the river I found my first Common Sandpiper of the year which pleased me. The other species seen on the river and river banks was as follows: Mallard(7) Lapwing(5)  Redshank(3)  Moorhen(2)  Cormorant(3)  Common Gull(2)  B/H/Gull(11)  L/B/B/Gull(1)  Reed Bunting(1m)  C/Crow(2)  Starling(4).
When I was leaving  to make my way home I heard the distinctive call of Fieldfares, then a mixed flock of Fieldfares and Redwings, about 30-40 passed close by and headed off in the direction of Halling Common.
Then on my way home I was walking over Vicarage Rd bypass bridge and as I neared the Baptist Church I noticed a small flock of birds at the top of the large tree in front of it. I didn't think anything about it, I thought they was probably Starlings because we have a lot around here. but something made me look again, I don't know why, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing, Waxwings 22 of them. I watched them for 20 minutes and then they flew off in a north westerly  direction.
Now it was one of those occasions when I decided not to take my camera due to the weather, you can imagine how I was feeling.
Once back home I did keep scanning the tree's but no sign.
I have been looking everywhere this year hoping to see some, but I kept missing them. Finally catching up with them is great, but to do it on your own patch is terrific.
Before I list my garden birds seen  I had another another nice surprise, at 3.25pm I had a very small party of Fieldfare and Redwing drop in on the tree's at the bottom of the garden, there wa about 11 in all.
Back to my garden list:
Magpie, Jay, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Starling, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Robin(2), Dunnock(2), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit(5)

Now for my "Bird Of The Day" Well that it a no brainer, it has to be ** Waxwing.**