Above & below: Two Waxwing, Weir St. Pay & Display Car Park, Blackburn Town Centre - 12th Dec 2008. 
12th Dec: After dipping on 20+ Waxwing present late afternoon the previous day at Pleasington Cemetery, Pam and I went for a coffee in Blackburn Town Centre followed by yet another tour of the town centre ornamental Rowans. Just when it seemed I had failed again, we returned to the car on Weir St. Car Park with seconds to spare before the ticket ran out at 12:25 and with a Traffic Warden breathing down our necks. Whilst hurriedly unlocking the car door, the joyous sound of calling Waxwings were heard directly above and two birds were feeding on the Rowans at 12:26, necessitating shelling out another 90p on another hour long ticket. Both birds flew south at 12:36 but returned shortly afterwards and were still present at 13:20. Hopefully the start of a good run of birds. Conditions were poor at Fishmoor and a lot of birds had already arrived before my arrival. I didn't see the 1stw Iceland but it could well still have roosted. The adult Med Gull (below, videograb: 10th Dec) was again with the Black-headed Gulls at the Hospital end of the Reservoir.
The same 1stw Iceland Gull at both Whinney Hill Tip & Fishmoor Res has been my 'large' Gull highlight throughout the week.
Above: 1stw Iceland Gull, Whinney Hill Tip, Lancs - 10th Dec 2008.
