Lift

It doesn't happen very often and it usually only lasts half a day but today was a flat day.  Coinciding with returning from Scotland, maybe I was double flat.  I took Little Dog out just as the rain was subsiding and it was good to get some air.  But I returned feeling much the same.  

I've seen a few waxwings on Blip and knew they'd been spotted in our village and Ilkley.  There was some blue sky beginning to appear so I thought this could be my chance to try to find some and give myself a boost. 

I'm not a genuine twitcher but you know by now that I like my wildlife.  We happened across them about ten years ago on the way to Ilkley and haven't seen them since.  So I headed into Ilkley in search of some rowan trees and a car wash for our seasalt-ladened vehicle.

I found redwings by the station.  I discovered bountiful berries outside the post office.  I found berried but bare rowan trees in the car park.  But no waxwings.

With 30 minutes on the meter, I made my way back looking permanently upwards and trying to avoid people and cars at the same time.  I stopped by the post office with a redwing and a few rowans.  I was nearly back at the car, conscious of time running out when suddenly a flock of waxwings came from over my head out of nowhere and landed on the top branches in front of me on the tree I was staring at.  

They fleeted in, they took off.  That was almost it.

I waited for a little longer and a few more came back.  I rattled on about them to a lovely lady by the cashpoint who hadn't seen them before.  They flew off as rapidly as they came in.

And then I grinned all the way home. And in the car wash.  And still.
Feeling better now.  
What a lift!

UPDATE: and I've just discovered that the ringed one on the left has flown down from Perth this winter. (Ilkley is known for its good food!)