A FLOCK of waxwing birds rarely seen in big numbers in Dorset has been spotted in Poole.

Nine of the crested migratory birds have been seen near Halfords in Ringwood Road.

Keen birder Ian Ballam first spotted the colourful birds yesterday.

He said the last time he had seen as many waxwings in Dorset was four years ago.

“There are nine there sat on a tree next to Halfords. They do usually come over to Britain every year, but not normally this far.

“It’s very rare to see them in big numbers. They are currently sat in a tall perch 30ft high. Every now and again, two of them come down to the cotoneaster bush and gorge on as many berries as they can before going up again to digest them. Then another two or three come down.”

Waxwings do not breed in the UK, but are winter visitors, some years in larger numbers called irruptions. Their numbers in the UK depend on food availability in Scandinavia and if they have had a good breeding season the previous summer.

They arrive in the north and east of Britain and move south and west as berries run out.