This morning I heard cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) in Cascara Circle. But where were they? Shy birds that they are, the whole flock were clustered at the top of the western dogwood (Cornus nuttallii). Why? They were checking out the water from a safe distance. Birds love water for drinking and bathing. Many birds will land and do their water business as I’m weeding or pruning a few feet away, but the waxwings are as spooky and flighty as birds can be, so I spent my whole morning break stalking the water, my camera already zoomed in so I wouldn’t have to move or look directly at the waxwings. They don’t like that.
Well, they finally came, all at once with some friends. There’s safety in numbers when you’re a little bird.
Ever watchful waxwings making absolutely, positively sure the coast is clear for a drink.
Notice the yellow at the end of the tail.
Two watching while one drinks. You’d have to arise pretty early to sneak up on a waxwing. Sorry for the fuzzy zoom on my camera.
The least movement drew their attention and spooked the whole bunch. The one on the far right led the escape and then they were gone. Waxwings sometimes pass through the garden in winter but I’m lucky to get close maybe once or twice. I’ve seen a single robin (Turdus migratorius) drive a whole flock of waxwings from the cotoneaster shrub near the greenhouse. City life seems to be stressful for them. I can relate.
But this ruby-crowned kinglet (Regulus calendula), flitting around the nearby shrubs, stayed still just long enough for a portrait. The spring mating call of the male is long, complex and beautiful.
As shy as the waxwings are, the Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) are bold. You can look them in the eye all day and they’ll look right back at you. Dinosaur blood runs in their veins and it’s a good thing they’re not much bigger than they are. I can think of no more beautiful bird that pays the garden daily visits. Rambunctious, loud and alarmist, yes, but it’s always a treat to have their company.
tsee tsee is their call
all for one and one for all
waxwings on a bough
See you in the garden.
Keith, Carlo and I went looking for the cedar waxwings this morning and found dozens swarming the Myrtus communis by Bill Talley’s bench–tasty berries, apparently! Thanks for alerting us to their presence in the garden.
Rebecca, thanks for the tip. I have another shrub in the Myrtaceae, Ugni molinae, the Chilean guava, planted nearby. Hopefully it will fruit in the next couple years and be another food source for the waxwings.