This is Sunday morning. I was dreading going to Pet Smart and had to motivate myself by telling myself that I would go to the cemetery afterwards to search for kinglets. Off I went with my camera. I was going out of Pet Smart with a full cart when all of a sudden I could hear the familiar call of cedar waxwings. I stopped dead in my tracks and searched. There right next to me were cedar waxwings eating off of this tree. HA! I thought to myself.......I wish I had a camera......Wait, I do have a camera!!!!!!!!!
I whipped it out and started taking pictures. It was really hard to get a good shot because I was below them and aiming the camera in direct sun. I had to keep trying to sneak up on them and change my angle some. People going in and out of Pet Smart looked at me very odd and looked at the tree to see what I found so fascinating. They walked off and shook their heads over the crazy lady taking pictures of birds in the tree. I shouted to one of them that these are cedar waxwings with a big goofy smile on my face. I was hoping they were a fellow birder who would be just as excited as I was. They were not. They just clutched their children a little closer and smiled at me nervously as they went to go find their car.
BTW: Is this a crab apple tree? If so than I would like to buy two this year for my yard. The waxwings sure must have been hungry for these berries if they were willing to forge for food in the middle of the Pet Smart parking lot.
I went to the cemetery and saw my kinglet. He was too fast for me though and didn't manage to get any pictures as all. I did find a new bird for me that I am going to have to look up. He behaved just like a nuthatch, but was smaller and brown. The little bugger was very quick and hopped from tree to tree and wound down from tree trunk to tree trunk so a picture was not possible.
14 comments:
Oh wow..I have never seen a kinglet. What a catch Kallen...
Tis the season for the Cedar Waxwing. Usually around this time of year they start showing up at our crabapple tree as well, but so far I've not seen them. What a great photo taking day for you!
I'm not sure but I'm guessing you saw a Brown Creeper. It's been quite a while since I've seen one but they always remind me of the Nuthatches too.
Hey Kallen, sounds as if you had a great day! Nice photos of the cedar waxwings. Their such neat birds. The tree definitely looks like a crab apple. I've been thinking about getting a couple for my property. I hear birds love them. I'm thinking that the new bird you described sounds like a brown creeper or possibly brown-headed nuthatch.
Wow Kallen---You are lucky to see those waxwings. I don't know what the tree is --but you need to find out and get one or two!!!!!
About the people who don't appreciate our birds, WELL---it's just their loss. They don't know what they are missing, do they????
Hugs,
Betsy
Kallen, I've had my best photo shoots of Cedar Waxwings on a grocery store parking lot and a Lowe's Home store lot. The landscapers plant loads of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. I need more of them!
I love that you had your camera w/ you for that opportune waxwing moment!!
I think those trees might be Crabapples. I have one and the Cedar Waxwings and Robins always come and clean it out. They love them. Very cool that you saw them! I am always in birding mode and walk across parking lots searching the skies. I'm sure I look like an idiot!
I too think you might have seen a Brown Creeper. They sure are nifty!
Glad you had your camera. Those are great pictures.
A cemetery is a great place foe wildlife. I have seen a fox hanging out in one ear our house.
Thanks all. I am hoping I can go to my favorite nursery and buy a crab apple tree that has already flowered so I can get fruit next winter. It will cost me more $$, but I have a large side yard that needs foliage and am too impatient to buy a smaller one.
It was a brown creeper I saw (I verified it in my Peterson Field Guide). Very nice looking bird but too quick today to take a photo of it.
Kallin, Great Posts! Great Pictures!
I am back in Juneau and saw about 5 Eagles, 20 Ravens (One was talking to me and another was barking like a dog.) I saw something like an Osprey.
It is 20 degrees and we have had 8-12 inches of snow the past 24 hours. I even skiied into a glacier - that was amazing.
Have a great day at work! I am kind of looking forward into getting back into a regular schedule.
Keep Blogging!
Oh how fun!!!! I'd have been right there beside you Kallen... oooing and ahhhing as we looked up into the tree!
Tee hee..Crazy Birder seen in pet smart parking lot....
Sounds like something I would do..and we always want to share our treasures!
Arn't the Waxwings fun to watch. We had several different species of crabapples when we were living in Winthrop and the Waxwings and Robins just loved them.
It's hard to tell from the photo if it is truly a crabapple, but I do reccomend them for the wildlife to eat in the fall and winter. The squirrels love eating them too.
I love waxwings. I've seen Cedars but never a bohemian waxwing.
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