waxwing sighting in dorset england

my wife and i often spend time admiring the birds that visit our feeders in our garden, today however was something special as we had a unusual visitor in the form of a stunning male waxwing hanging from one of our feeders. we often have a wide assortment of birds in our garden but until today we have never seen a waxwing or anything even remotely similar.
i do not know if it is a rare event or not and was hoping that someone would be able to enlighten me as to (A) their habitat, (b) their feeding habits, (c) just how common they are .

Hello Jodak

I've never seen a Waxwing myself although we have plenty of visitors to our garden and to our feeders.

I've just looked at the RSPB website and found the information below which might help.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/w/waxwing/index.aspx

Also a link from BBC Nature UK
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/natureuk/2010/10/waxwing-influx.shtml

Lai

thank you for your help laika it was much apprieciated

pleasure Jodak

I'll be keeping an eye out for Waxwings now!

Lai

Hi Jodak
Welcome to WAA. Great that you have spotted a Waxwing, you are in the right area really. Where we live in North Wales we are to far west to get them. We get lots of different species on our feeders, but unfortunately not Waxwings. You can see news, and some of the photos taken by our members of Birds visiting the feeders that they have in the British Wildlife News on the Forum, under Our Feeding Stations, on this link.
https://wildaboutanimals.forumotion.net/t383-our-feeding-stations
The search for berries often brings Waxwings close to people as berry bearing trees and bushes are frequently found in gardens, and Parks. They are not shy birds and may allow close views as they busily feed. Favourite fruits include rowan, cotoneaster, pyracantha, dog-rose and crab apple. Hope this helps with putting food out to keep your Waxwing coming back to your feeder, and fingers X perhaps some others as well

WS
( Whitestarling )

Hi Jodak,

A waxwing sighting - thats great!

We love to see pics of visitors to the feeding stations. If you have a camera to hand next time we would love to see.

BTW Welcome to WAA.

SM