Invaders from the North

Waxwings perched on winter ash twigs.

The Scandinavians are again invading Cumbria. Hordes of waxwings, fieldfares and redwings were on Arnside Knott today. The waxwings were gorging on the berries of hawthorn, yew and buckthorn, and in between mouthfuls they would fly up onto ash twigs, cocking their crests and emitting their distinctive purry, trilling calls. Waxwing numbers visiting Britain in winter vary enormously from year to year, depending very much on how much fruit has been produced by trees and shrubs in Scandinavia and elsewhere in northern Europe.

Ash is one of the dominant species on the limestone hill of the Knott. The future of this native tree here and elsewhere is uncertain now due to the arrival from the continent of a permanent and much less welcome invader. This is the fungus causing ash die-back disease. Diseased trees have been found in Watendlath in the central Lake District, thought to have been infected from saplings imported to the country from Holland for Forestry Commission woodland planting schemes. Now established in many parts of the country, there is nothing to stop its rapid advance through the native ash population. We can only hope that the proportion of resistant trees is higher than it has been elsewhere in Europe.

On a more positive note, we had an appraisal today to see if we could provide a suitable home for Gus. I shall be reporting on the outcome in the next week or so.