Cedar Waxwing On A Magic Stick

[canonloader]

I've been waiting for one or more of these to find my cherry tree and this morning, the first scout came to have a look. He didn't seem to be bothered by me in the window clicking off his pictures.


http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/cedar_waxwing/gallery/album1/large/cedarwaxwing-img_4008-061207.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/cedar_waxwing/gallery/album1/large/cedarwaxwing-img_4011-061207.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/cedar_waxwing/gallery/album1/large/cedarwaxwing-img_4012-061207.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/cedar_waxwing/gallery/album1/large/cedarwaxwing-img_4019-061207.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/cedar_waxwing/gallery/album1/large/cedarwaxwing-img_4020-061207.jpg

[kolok]

Wow, what a great looking bird! The background really complements the subject in its natural environment. Nice captures!

[rrdjserv@earthlink.net]

Love #2 & 4. Great colors, Mitch. --Rick

[canonloader]

Thanks Kolok and Rick. They are great looking birds. I've been waiting since last fall to get another shot at them, hoping they would find my cherry tree so I could get some more keepers. And they are welcome to them since the cherries are way too sour to eat.

They make good jam though if you want to eat 5 pounds of sugar with it. ;)

[Momtothefurmonsters]

Mitch, These are wonderful!!!! I love #4.

[Kevin]

Super series Mitch. The light was just right for these shots.

[canonloader]

Thanks Mom and Kevin. I guess I didn't need to include so many shots of nearly the same pose, but I do it because it gives a sense of how the bird acts. He was there for a minute or two, but didn't move much but his head. I guess he was counting berries on the tree to his left. ;)

Kevin, early morning sun. It had just come over the roof of the house and lit this spot.

[Cooper911]

Nice captures, catchlights and composition. I agree the background makes this fella stand out. You must live in a "birding" paradise. Good work.

[themtkid]

Very nice picture id have to say this is one of my favorite bird pictures that ive seen you take. Very nice

[canonloader]

Thanks Cooper and M Kid. I guess you could call it a paradise. It's in Western Wisconsin, about 2 miles from the Mississippi River, the central flyway for the continental US and Canada. Pretty much every bird from here to the north pole that migrates will eventually come through here.

The trick is to find them. I have had several birds make the stop here for a few days to a few weeks, then continue on North. It will be interesting to see if they remember where it is and hit it on their way South this fall. :)

[sugarzebra]

Great shots Mitch and the pose on the fourth image is excellent. We had some Cedar Waxwings go through here about four weeks ago, but I haven't seen any since then. I guess we are waiting for the fall now.

[canonloader]

Thanks Scott. Having seen them strip a large tree of berries in just a few hours, I still don't know what they do after the berries are all gone. I mean, they only fruit once a year. I'm sure, once they strip my trees, they won't be back til next summer. It's too bad too cause they are beautiful birds. :)

[village idiot]

Waxwings are such a beautiful bird, and these are great shots of one. Shame it didn't do more creative posing for you, but you captured well what there was to grab. nice series...

[dancad]

Nice shots there Mitch! If the bird stayed that long did you think of taking a few verticals as well?...these shots would look really good in that format. I think I prefer the last shot for the "curious" look it has here!

[downywp]

Very nice shots, the 2nd shot is my favourite, you are very lucky to live on the Mississippi flyway!:)

[Miniflash]

Very nice Mitch~

[Reyno]

Very smooth and lovely captures, great series Mitch.

[StarDog]

Dido! Bob

[canonloader]

Waxwings are such a beautiful bird, and these are great shots of one. Shame it didn't do more creative posing for you, but you captured well what there was to grab. nice series...
Hey Bob, thanks. Wait til you see what's coming. This bird and another just dropped in to check things out. I am just now downloading the RAW's. ;)

Nice shots there Mitch! If the bird stayed that long did you think of taking a few verticals as well?...these shots would look really good in that format. I think I prefer the last shot for the "curious" look it has here!
Dan, I almost never think to shoot in Portrait mode. I guess I could crop these in portrait, but it just seems an odd layout to me.

Very nice shots, the 2nd shot is my favourite, you are very lucky to live on the Mississippi flyway!:)
Thanks Downy. Weird, but I haven't thought about an eagle for a couple days now. :D

Very nice Mitch~
Thanks Deb.

Very smooth and lovely captures, great series Mitch.
Thanks Reyno, I'm getting a lot of practice here. :)

Dido! Bob
Thanks Bob.

[Loonwatcher]

You keep setting the standard higher and higher. Very beautiful!

Naomi

[canonloader]

Thanks Naomi. I love looking at these birds when other post them and it's great finally getting some pics of my own. :)

[Blue Deuce]

Dang, you get more types flying into your yard then we have in our whole state. Nicely done of my favorite little bird.

[kenyc]

Very pretty bird. Great job Mitch!

I keep looking for them, but no joy.

KAC

[canonloader]

Thanks Mike and Kenny. And this ain't all. I was just sitting in my window tonight, enjoying a little breeze and two of them flew into the grass, then up onto some of my sticks. One even was checking out some seeds on a log I put out. More to come. :)

[MicheleRF]

What an elegant bird. Wonderful shots, Mitch.

[canonloader]

Thanks Michele. They are a very striking looking bird. :)

[hTr]

Great Waxwing shot Mitch

See what you get if you are up before noon.:D :lol: :D

[canonloader]

Thanks Gary. Noon use to be my regular wake up time. I can't believe how much I missed. :D

[kenyc]

Thanks Gary. Noon use to be my regular wake up time. I can't believe how much I missed. :D


Yeah, I tend to get up early myself, but sometimes don't get out early enough. When I do I get surprises like the owls that tend to be gone once everyone else shows up. I definitely envy you these on your own porch though!

KAC

[canonloader]

Thanks Kenny. As you can see, I am up early again and saw an Oriole at the grape jelly already. Amazing. :)

[kenyc]

:)

KAC
P.S. I'll have to try the grape jelly thing.

[canonloader]

It's working for Catbirds and Orioles. Get the cheapest stuff you can find, which in this case turned out to be Smuckers. :mrgreen:

[pttenn]

The 4th one gets my vote. All are nice, however.
Karen

[canonloader]

Thanks Karen. I'm hoping to see them again today. Two of them showed up last night, but I had to use high ISO to get anything on them. :)

[PacAce]

Nice cedar waxwing captures, Mitch. I don't know if you noticed or not but your waxwing has orange tail tips at the sides but a yellow one in the center, which is a first for me. I've seen them with all orange or all yellow but not mixed like yours. :)

[canonloader]

I did see that Leo, but thought it was just the early morning sunlight. :)

Last night, a pair of them showed up. It was almost dark but I got some shots off at slower shutter speeds. I just checked some of those and they have all yellow tips.

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/cedar_waxwing/gallery/album1/large/cedarwaxwing-img_4269-061207.jpg

[PacAce]

I did see that Leo, but thought it was just the early morning sunlight. :)

Last night, a pair of them showed up. It was almost dark but I got some shots off at slower shutter speeds. I just checked some of those and they have all yellow tips.

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/Slideshows/cedar_waxwing/gallery/album1/large/cedarwaxwing-img_4269-061207.jpg
But is that the same bird as the one you posted at the beginning of this thread?

You might be right about the morning light but I highly doubt it. I think you got a picture of a unique cedar waxwing. :)

[canonloader]

Well, no, I doubt it's the same bird. I was just saying neither of the two that showed up last night had any odd looking tips. Interesting that it can happen that way. :D

[PacAce]

Well, no, I doubt it's the same bird. I was just saying neither of the two that showed up last night had any odd looking tips. Interesting that it can happen that way. :D

Ordinarily the cedar waxwing will have a yellow tail tip but there are variants with orange tail tips which is attributed to the diet of those particular individuals while still young.