A SCANDINAVIAN invasion is on the way - but thankfully it's not the Vikings this time.
Birdwatchers have been urged to prime their binoculars for the arrival of striking Waxwings from the frozen north, which are travelling to Scotland in search of food.
The birds are irregular visitors to these shores, and come in search of berries. They do not arrive every year, but comes in droves - known as an "irruption" - every seven or eight years.
But this year is predicted to see an especially large migration due to a lack of sustenance in their native land.
Keith Morton, Species Policy Officer at RSPB Scotland said they birds, likely to be joined by redwings and fieldfares, are coming just in time for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.
Thousands of people are being encouraged to take part in the survey, now in it's 38th year, and spend an hour recording the wildlife in their gardens this weekend.
Mr Morton said: “Waxwings are very striking, exotic-looking birds with prominent crests, bandit masks around their eyes and brightly-coloured waxy quills on their wings, the reason for their name.
"They get to Scotland every year but numbers fluctuate enormously year to year, probably depending on food availability in Scandinavia where they live and breed for the rest of the year. This irregular behaviour is known as ‘irruptive migration’ and there seem to be loads around this winter.
"The first sightings are usually on the east coast as they arrive in the autumn and then further inland as they spread out in search of berry bushes.
More than 36,000 people across Scotland took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch last year, counting 626,335 birds. House sparrows were the most frequently spotted bird, with chaffinches and starlings rounding off the top three.
As well as counting winged garden visitors, RSPB Scotland is also asking people to log some of the other wildlife they have seen throughout the year, such as foxes, hedgehogs and squirrels.
And the charity is especially keen to hear about more exotic visitors such as waxwings. Mr Morton said: "Keep an eye out for them in your counting hour – they are slightly smaller than starlings and will be feeding in flocks on berries at the moment, although they switch to insects as early spring arrives, ready for the flight back to their northern breeding grounds.”
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