I've had a huge flock of Cedar Waxwings at my house for two days. At first I thought it was just another flock of starlings, but nope, Cedar Waxwings. Here's a photo of a very small part of the flock. I have never seen these birds in huge flocks like this before.
Here's a few of them in a cedar tree. They're hard to see, because they always keep moving.
A few more. These were kind of taking a break!
I don't live very far from you and ditto with the cedar waxwings they just migrate thru every year but I think it is usually a little bit later,I took some pix sometimes when they were on the move so will search them out and see if the time frame matches the memories I have of them ..
Not even close on the memory thing this pix was taken in Jan. 08
I think everything is running a little later this year. I figure these will stay around until they clean all the seeds (berries?) off of the cedars in the area. BTW-I know about where you live. I worked for a few years in Heavener.
Wow, what fabulous captures of these beautiful birds. grits74571, I discovered these fascinating birds several years ago. I didn't see them last winter, but an abundant number of them this year. chicochi3, they constantly on the move. First I saw them gleaning previts berries in our neighborhood, then last week. They arrived to clean out my Christmas berries. They at first sent out a couple of scouts, it seemed. The following day, a flock of them came by at intervals to finish off the crop. Thank you for sharing those photos.
I noticed the scouts. First a few of them land in a tree, and soon a huge number of them follow. I never paid much attention to them before this, but they are fascinating birds. I saw one large group of them yesterday flying and making patterns like you see starlings do. This is just amazing!
I too have seen them in flock on top of tree branches like pictured above. I'm new to Starlings flying patterns. Could you please share more info. Hopefully I can identify them on open fields. Thank you.
Here's a great video of the starlings. Apparently this flying in patterns is called "Murmuration". The starlings are obviously better at this than cedar waxwings are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vhE8ScWe7w&feature=related
The CWWs are also bud eaters one year they cleaned every bud from my crab apple ,the tree they are pictured in is a wild black cherry so kinda figured they were checking for buds but were way to early ..I see them coming and going but to where I know not ..once in the Fall/Winter then again in the spring...BTW I love the Runestone Park
Hah, grits, I'm glad to learn that they're among buds eaters. I've seen Cardinal carrying my cherry blossoms buds before. I recently also saw a remnant of a Camelias flowers being partially eaten by some culprits. Didn't see which species of birds did so, but now I understand more. Thanks. Chicochi3, what neat 'Murmuration'! Thanks for sharing.
My flock seems to be gone today. I love the Runstone Park, too, and I believe!
Did you hear that the park is now in the care of a group called the friends of the runestone with some support from CASC..
i know that I was being a little oblique in the reference to the Runestone Park but was just hoping to pique some interest so that Y'all would google Heaverner Runestone it is fasinating..
I'm glad to hear that the Runestone Park has someone taking care of it. I had heard that it was going to be closed down. That would be terrible!
