Cedar Waxwing - Bath, Maine | Click thumbnail for larger view
I arose bright and early this morning to take the trash out for pickup. While walking out the drive, I heard the high pitched call notes of the Cedar Waxwing. I looked around and spied 15 of these beautiful birds in a maple tree along our property line. I slipped back into the house and grabbed my camera, hoping on the way back outside that the Waxwings were still around.
They were still there! I walked across the yard and positioned myself beside a spruce tree. Several of the birds flew away due to my movement and, unfortunately, two were Bohemian Waxwings. I felt like banging my head into the tree! The Bohemian Waxwing has eluded my lens since I began photographing birds. One of these days….
I took several photos of the birds before the garbage truck arrived and scared them away. As I walked back to the house, an adult Bald Eagle flew overhead and disappeared behind the ridge across the road. I heard birds signing everywhere: Northern Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Blue Jays, and American Goldfinch. Two pair of male and female Purple Finch were at our feeders yesterday and we saw two Turkey Vultures flying high over the ridge. Spring is coming!
Another sure sign that spring is around the corner happened Saturday morning. I watched a pair of adult Bald Eagles doing a mating cartwheel display high above our cove. The display begins high in the air with the two birds darting and diving at each other, until they lock talons and drop in a spinning free fall, until the last possible moment before slamming into the ground, they separate. Talk about awesome! I can only hope that if I see this again in my lifetime, it will be close enough to capture some photos. Later in the afternoon, I watched another adult carry a branch to a tree directly across the cove from our backyard.
I love this time of year. Although we still get snowstorms well into April, and sometimes May, spring is just around the corner and migratory birds are on the move. Sugaring is going full throttle and the sugar houses are making maple syrup. It won’t be long and we will see buds on the trees and the first flowers of spring will sweeten the air with their aroma.
Cedar Waxwings - Bath, Maine | Click thumbnail for larger view
Cedar Waxwings - Bath, Maine | Click thumbnail for larger view
Happy birding!
{ 15 comments }
That first shot is Awesome! Glad spring has sprung and the birds are around!
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I love these birds, as they look like little masked bandits. Your photography is intimidating to an amatuer like myself. I want to say thanks for posting your beautiful photography for others to enjoy.
Fabulous post! I LOVE Cedar Waxwings…and I'd love to have a Bald Eagle flyover
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John- Cedar waxwings are a bird I have so far admired from afar but have never photographed (at least got more than documentary shots). Great images!
Such a handsome bird, the Cedar Waxwing. Nice job, enjoyable post.
Great waxwing photos, John. I’m jealous – I know exactly how you feel about the Bohemian Waxwings, because I’ve yet to get a photo I like of the Cedar Waxwings. Bird photography can be very frustrating sometimes!
Cedar Waxwings are such handsome birds aren't they? They remind me of ornaments on the tree when you see a flock perched like that. I love your first photo John. Gorgeous morning light.
I also know how you feel, banging your head against the tree
I have only seen the Bald Eagle mating cartwheel in video. It must be amazing to see it in your own backyard eh?
Happy spring birding to you John. Looking forward to another great year!
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Cedar Waxwings are such handsome birds aren't they? They remind me of ornaments on the tree when you see a flock perched like that. I love your first photo John. Gorgeous morning light.
I also know how you feel, banging your head against the tree
I have only seen the Bald Eagle mating cartwheel in video. It must be amazing to see it in your own backyard eh?
Happy spring birding to you John. Looking forward to another great year!
My recent post The Sundial Bridge and Turtle Bay
They look great! What a bunch of beautiful Birds!
!
Lucky you to have them around
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Hi,
How wonderful to be able to see both bohemian and cedar waxwings!!! I'd love to see them more often but this is not the kind of birds we have over here!!! Well done the pictures are really nice and I hope you happen to cross their road again!
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I enjoy the "chimes" of their twittering when they finally eat the ornamental cherries. I wonder if they save them for last during the winter because they just aren't their first choice in dining?
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…that first photo is just stunning. I love the perfect profile and the coloring… I always love hearing their distinct calls too!
Awesome to see the eagles doing a cartwheel display, John. Hope you get a photo of that one day. And the Bohemians of course.
ohh! Waxwings are so pretty. That's pretty cool they were hanging out in your yard – great pictures, that first one is perfect! great blue sky for the background too!
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we had one in our honeysuckle bush today…i had no clue what he was till i looked him up on the internet…such a beautiful bird…southern west virginia
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