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Raven's call |
When I headed out today, I did so just because I needed it. I had no expectations, no direction and no purpose other than to soak up some light and breathe in the air. As soon as I stepped out the door, I let my feet lead and my mind rest. The first thing that I noticed was that the birds were very active and vocal. In fact, I was surrounded by birdsong. I stopped here and there just to listen. The House sparrows and House finches were singing their mating songs. The Nut hatches and Blue Jays were unusually vocal as well, although I don't know what their mating call sound like, and then I heard the high pitched voices of a flock of Bohemian Waxwings.
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Bohemian Waxwings |
It is then that I realized, that the bird song was more concentrated in a specific direction and I wasted no time in getting there.
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All puffed up |
It seemed as soon as I arrived in a small patch of forest just off the side of a busy road, I was literally surrounded by birds as if by magic. House Finches and sparrows, Nuthatch, Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays and even a Raven, joined a huge flock of Bohemian waxwings that were feasting on berries. The waxwings were not shy. As long as I stood still they continued to consume berries at a incredible rate.
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Downy Woodpecker |
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Downy above me |
I wandered away from them for a while, only to have a Downy woodpecker land on a branch directly over my head. Suddenly there were Downy woodpeckers everywhere, and they seem to have paired off. No sooner would a female arrive on the trunk of a tree and a male would follow almost instantly. They were calling to each other all the time. I also spotted some Dark-eyed Junco's foraging on the forest floor and almost danced a jig. Their presence is a sure sign that spring is not too far off.
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Scarfing down a berry |
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All puffed up |
When I returned to where I first saw the Bohemians, it was to find them still greedily consuming berries. They would eat a few berries, then drop down to the forest floor to eat some snow. Once in a while, one or two would shoot up to the tree tops, or off to another berry bush, their flight so swift that I trouble following it with the eye. These birds were in constant motion so that there was a steady stream of traffic from one berry bush to another, and from one tree to another. I was delighted to discover, that I could get as close as five feet before they would all fly off. Having discovered the distance that the birds would tolerate, I stayed there, working the shutter.
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In Song |
I managed to get a few decent photos as you can see. Nuthatches came and went, and a Raven arrived to perch on the top of a pine, announcing his arrival with his harsh calls. When I finally went home the waxwings were still mobbing the berry bushes and birdsong continued to fill the air. This had been a magic moment, one that I will remember for quite some time.
Enjoy,
Susan
What a wonderful experience. A feast of birds. Great photos. The one of the waxwing is really nice
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