D'vorahDavida
Yetzirah

Surprise Visitors
Tue Apr 11 2006

Yesterday afternoon, I was in here in the computer room checking ONCE MORE if Dear Diary was back on line. I haven't heard many others mention it, so maybe it was a local issue, but for most of the day and all evening I had a "Bad Gateway" error message instead of DD. Ack! 

In any case, there I was checking again, and I saw something outside in the front yard flitting down from the willow tree over and over. What was that anyway? I pulled back the curtain to find a flock of birds going crazy for the little red berries on some shrubs we have out there. There were a LOT of birds.

 I slowly opened the front door so as not to spook them. I could not believe my eyes! It was a veritable convention of Cedar Waxwings! 

[album 65561 Cedar Waxwing.JPG] 

I sat at the kitchen table and watched them for about 5 minutes. I did a frenzied count as best I could and I can tell you with complete honesty, there were at least one hundred of them! Half would be perched in the trees, and half would be on the bushes. Then all of a sudden a few of them flew over to the neighbor's house across the street, landing on their shrubs (of a different variety) and within seconds, the whole flock had gone over there. 

They are such beautiful birds! I don't think I have ever seen one in person before. Much less a hundred of them. I wonder where they were headed? 

P.S. I did not take this photo. I found it on the internet.  ;-)
14 Comments
  • From:
    Calichef (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 11 2006
    DD was out all day yesterday, and it wasn't just for us here in California. I have to tell you, it frustrated the heck outta me!

    I've lived here all my life, and I don't think I've ever seen Cedar Wax Wings before, either. I would expect that the migratory patterns of birds will change as global warming takes more and more effect. Everything will change, I suppose.

    Hugs,
    ~Cali
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 11 2006
    Indeed they are beautiful birds. Is that your photograph? Looks professional.

    There's nothing here to attract birds except crows and pigeons. The pigeons roost on top of the swamp coolers of the upper apartments. Messy critters they are.

    Scrub jays abound, too.

    Shalom
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 11 2006
    aww what a gorgeous shot
  • From:
    Allimom (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 11 2006
    I do need to go easier on hitting the books. I hit them so hard earlier I thought I broke my hand....
    ;^D
    Alli
  • From:
    Mamallama (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 11 2006
    What an awesome thing to watch! I love nature's critters. They are much better than watching T.V. What a beautifully colored little bird. I've never seen one either.
  • From:
    InStitches (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 11 2006
    I got that "Bad Gateway" message all day as well......but we're up and running today so the equalibrium of cyber-space has been restored. :)

    I've never seen a Cedar Waxwing; I don't even know if they are to be found here. What a treat that you got to see so many.
  • From:
    Damselita (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 11 2006
    I read your comment on Jerek's diary and found you so interesting that I had to pop in! Blessings!
  • From:
    Dananarama (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Apr 11 2006
    Aaaawwww, I love it when I get little suprises like that. I would have sat and watched them too...and over 100, thats a LOT of birdies in your yard!

    My cat would have had a field day if 100 bird showed up on my front lawn - tee hee.
  • From:
    Dustbunny3 (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 12 2006
    Cedar Waxwings (Audubon) On the West coast thier beeding ground is around British Columbia,
    Wax wings spend most of year in flocks whose movements may be quite erratic. Hundreds will suddenly appear in a araa to expolit a crop of berries only to vanish when that that crop is exsusted. They like choke cherries bay berries and fruit blossems.
    I have seen them in ARK but they never stayed arouund long.
  • From:
    ImNotLisa (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 12 2006
    Pretty pretty birds!
  • From:
    SerendipityDuck (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 12 2006
    What a great experience. I am one of those crazy birders. My husband and I plan our vacations with birds in mind.

    Thanks for sharing the picture. I love your Diary.

    DD was down in NC too.
  • From:
    Bookworm (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 12 2006
    How wonderful. ;-)
  • From:
    MizzM (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Apr 13 2006
    I'm so glad you made this post! I recently joined a group, and we meet in one of the group member's homes, and her street address is on "Cedar Waxwing." So I asked her, "have you ever wondered what the heck a Cedar Waxwing was?" and she responded, "Well, yeah--we thought it might be some kind of tree..."

    So now I know--and I'll be sure to share!
  • From:
    Parett (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Apr 15 2006
    What a precious, little bird! Makes my heart open even more.....thanks for sharing.

    Have a wonderful weekend. Love ya....Parett