WAXWING WINTER- NOT QUITE.

A lone Waxwing was reported from North Foreland last week so I thought it would be rude not to pay my respects to this beautiful winter visitor from Northern Europe.In some years when food supplies are short elsewhere hundreds of them may descend on us to strip the berries from our trees and hedgerows,however they have been few and far between this year.This first winter bird is unusually alone though I have seen singles before but not very often.They`re preferred food is Rowan berries but this one fed voraciously on Privet berries for a few minutes then would fly to a nearby perch to digest them then return and repeat ...

 WAXWING? The red feathers were thought to look like ceiling wax hence the name.I am not sure if the small red spikes on the coverts have any specific purpose?