Cedar Waxwing

In the aftermath of the record snowstorm, there were numerous trees down including part of a large possumhaw holly behind our den. It was loaded with beautiful berries and we hated to see it go down. Fortunately, the berries did not go to waste as a large flock of cedar waxwings showed up and stripped the tree of berries in just a few minutes. They also stripped the burford and yaupon hollies so they apparently were very hungry.

The reason that this branch looks strange is because it is hanging upside down. That did not seem to bother the birds very much.

I found plenty of mistakes in the way that I tried to photograph them after they left, but I guess that is the way to learn. The images were shot through a double pane window that was not very clean -- from now on the window stays sparkling clean. They were only about three feet outside the window.

There were not many keepers, but even so I like this one despite its faults.

Beautiful Bird Bill, Thanks!!

Yes, we can always learn something but look at the composition you got. Wow! Bill. You couldn't frame it any better.

Beautiful and like a painting.

A beautiful shot Bill. Looks like you got the flock of Waxwings we had.
We had hundreds in our yard the day of the snow. They stripped our trees in under an hour.

It is still a lovely shot!

Beautiful shot

hTr wrote in post #9610203
Beautiful Bird Bill, Thanks!!

Thanks, Gary. They are beautiful birds that are rarely seen around here. One or two days a year is about all the opportunity that we get to see them, if we are lucky. I think that the snow storm had a lot to do with them showing up here.

Joe F.N. wrote in post #9610242
Yes, we can always learn something but look at the composition you got. Wow! Bill. You couldn't frame it any better.

Thanks, Joe. When my wife saw the image, she actually gasped and couldn't believe that it was one of my images. I assured her that accidents happen and given enough time and opportunities, even I will have a keeper.

I had to shrink it down considerably as a more critical eye could see the camera shake. One lesson learned: it is not necessary to install the 400 mm bird lens when the birds are only about three feet outside the window. Backing up to the other side of the room in order to get the birds in focus proved to be a big limitation on what I could shoot.

I really lucked out on exposure. Snow is something that just doesn't happen in the DFW area and here I was shooting towards the morning sun with the light reflecting off the snow expecting good exposure.

Stargazerfrank wrote in post #9610281
Beautiful and like a painting.

Thank you, Frank.

txcanon wrote in post #9610965
A beautiful shot Bill. Looks like you got the flock of Waxwings we had.
We had hundreds in our yard the day of the snow. They stripped our trees in under an hour.

Thank you, Brad. We are in the Arlington area and it was the morning after the storm while we were having breakfast that they showed up. We had a number of large tree limbs that broke under the weight of the snow especially in a large live oak tree.

levinader wrote in post #9611569
It is still a lovely shot!

Thank you, Levina.

akhan wrote in post #9612201
Beautiful shot

Thank you, akhan.

Great shot Bill. I think you will discover that windows don't really have to be that clean to shoot through as long as the camera is close to them.

Nice going, Bill, a very pretty bird.

It works for me, Bill. I think you did great.

We've had them here now and again, love them, send some this way Bill - nice shot

trmwf wrote in post #9613543
Great shot Bill. I think you will discover that windows don't really have to be that clean to shoot through as long as the camera is close to them.

Mike, this is great news and I can't wait to share it with the "boss" (the cleaning the windows part). I also appreciate the other tip about being close to the window. I messed up when putting the telephoto lens on the camera and then had to back up about ten feet from the window.

sparker1 wrote in post #9614488
Nice going, Bill, a very pretty bird.

Thank you, Stan.

Harvey_G wrote in post #9614600
It works for me, Bill. I think you did great.

Thank you, Harvey. I really appreciate your feedback.

Paul_R_Canada wrote in post #9615584
We've had them here now and again, love them, send some this way Bill - nice shot

OK, Paul, I have a box ready. Whenever I catch some, I will have them promptly shipped to you.

Very nice composition - looks like a Chinese painting.

GMHY wrote in post #9616894
Very nice composition - looks like a Chinese painting.

Thank you, Gerard.