These unusual birds have been causing a bit of mess around some Delph Wynd gardens the past week.

Attracted by bushes full of red berries, they've been taking up residence on a number of TV aerials, and as a consequence the ground below looks like someone's been splattering raspberry jam everywhere.

I spent the morning with the power washer clearing this up (waxwings - you owe me a power washer; mine blew up during this and has been retired to the skip already)

Click the thumbnails below for a larger version

I'm no Bill Oddie, but apparently these birds are visitors from Russia that spend the winter here. They fly back in the Spring so need to stock up on food for the long flight, hence the ravaging of next door's bush.

Googlefactoid: Each bird eats its own weight in berries every two hours

Brianfactoid: Each bird expels its own weight in berries every two hours