Winter visitor from northern Europe and Scandinavia.

Waxwings breed in the conifer forests of northern Europe. After breeding they move southwards to feed on berries, when there is a shortage of these they irrupt” from their normal wintering areas and move further south in search of food. Large numbers sometimes occur in Britain during such “irruption” years.

During the “irruption” winters of 1946/47, 1965/66, 1995/96, 2000/01, 2004/05, and 2010/11 large numbers were recorded in Hertfordshire.

Prior to 1997 the records for Stevenage are: one shot in February 1898; five in 1921 (an, “irruption winter”), one on 8 February 1947 (an “irruption winter”); approximately 12 at St. George’s Church from mid – April to 30 April 1966 (an, “irruption winter”); one at Box  Wood on 27 February 1970; one in 1970; up to 30 between 15 February and 14 April 1971 at, Shephall Park, Bedwell, Popple Way, Sish Lane, Exchange Road, Whomerly Wood, and Watery Grove; one at Popple Way from 18 to 25 February 1972.

Between 1997 and, 2012 they were recorded almost annually from the Canterbury Way area, where four were seen on 23 January 1997, up to three between 20 and 28 December 1999, up to 20 between 6 and 14 January 2001, up to five between 6 and 9 January 2003, up to six between 5 January and 11 February 2004, up to 10 between December 2008 and 15 February 2009 (this particular flock moved regularly from York Road to Bray Drive at Great Ashby) and three between 30 November and 3 December 2012. They appeared to be attracted to the berries of the Rowan Trees (Sorbus aucuparia) which grow between the houses.

The winter of 2004/05 saw one of the largest ever recorded irruption of Waxwings in Western Europe. The first record for Stevenage that winter came predictably from Canterbury Way when ten were seen on 26 December 2004. Flocks of between 11 and 78 birds were subsequently seen at, Ripon Road, Eastbourne Avenue/Clovelly Way, Bude Crescent, the Kodak Waste Site, Durham Road, Minsden Road, Fairlands Valley Lakes, Great Ashby Way, Shepalbury Park, York Road, and Gresley Way. The final sighting was a single bird at Sainsbury’s Petrol Station in Magpie Crescent on 26 April.

A further large irruption occurred in the exceptionally cold winter of 2010/11. The first Stevenage record came from, Wetherby Close on 23 and 24 November 2010, when up to seven were seen. Flocks of between six and 150 birds were subsequently seen at, Sish Lane, York Road, Great Ashby Way, Petworth Close, Skylark Corner, Newcastle Close, Derby Way, Chepstow Close, Epsom Close, Shephall Way, High Street, Wickes Store, Broadhall Way, Fairlands Valley, Halfords Store Car Park, London Road, Bray Drive, Morgan Close, Burleigh Close, the Railway Station, Argyle Way, Six Hills Way/Bessemer Drive/Potters Lane, the Kodak Waste Site, and Pizza Hut at the Roaring Meg. The final sighting was of 38 in Ferrier Road on 17 March 2011.    

During the winter of 2023/24, another, “irruption year” birds were recorded at: Stevenage Leisure Park, two on 28 November 2023; Scarborough Avenue, up to nine on 25 and 26 December 2023 and eight on 13 January 2024; Pin Green Industrial Area, up to eight birds between 29 and 7 January 2024; Shell Garage, Martins Way, eight between 11 and 13 January 2024; Gunnels Wood Road c. 20 on 6 March 2024; Roaring Meg Retail Park 18 on 16 March 2024.

Other records for Stevenage are: three around Torquay Crescent on 15 and 16 December 2003; three at Great Ashby Way on 21 March 2006; 10 at Chesfield Park on 19 December 2008; up to six at Great Ashby Way from the end of January until mid-February 2009; two behind the Cromwell Hotel on 1 December 2012; two at Great Ashby Way on 16 December 2012; two at Fairlands Valley Lakes on 17 December 2012; 3 at Norton Green on 24 December 2012; six at Fishers Green on 14 February 2013; 14 at Berwick Close on 15 February 2013; 14 at Almonds Hill School on 18 February 2013; 10 -20 at Argyle Way and Gunnels Wood Road between 16 February and 1 March 2017 and eight seen near Glaxo on 26 February; two at an unrecorded location on 3 April 2019.

Pin Green Industrial Area 1 January 2024.