More Snow = More Bohemian Waxwings

The Branch of a Fruit Tree

I hadn't planned on going out today, because it was snowing.  But it stopped about midday and the sun came out, finally.   We've been getting a lot of snow this past week, just like last year at this time, and just like last year, more snow equals more Bohemian Waxwings, much to my delight.  No doubt that is because there are a lot of fruit trees in my neighborhood, as well as a couple of forested areas where they can roost.  Bohemian waxwings love to eat fruit in winter.  In fact they will eat it almost exclusively.  They will often eat so much fruit that are known to become intoxicated.

Bohemian in profile

Bohemian Waxwing

When I left my house I spotted a fruit tree that had an abundant amount of fruit still dangling from every branch.  I took a couple of photos of it, because it looked pretty contrasted again the blue sky.   Then I headed down the street, very conscious of all manner of bird song coming from every direction.

Small flock in the fruit tree

coming in for a landing

I didn't hear the Bohemians until I had walked several blocks.  There is no  mistaking their high pitched peeps and whistles.  Despite the fact that under normal circumstances a waxwing's voice doesn't carry far, when there is a large flock they make a lot of noise.  At first I heard more than I saw, but then a small  flock of Bohemian Waxwings took to the air.

Arriving and taking off

Startled into flight

When I got closer to the area where they took off, I realized that every single tree was occupied with 30 to 50 Bohemian waxwings, if not more.  Many were well hidden amongst the branches of the pine trees they occupied.  Those pine trees being the staging area for their war with survival.

They would take off and return in waves.  Those that arrived in the tree tops, busied themselves eating the snow blanketing the branches to quench their thirst.  Those that left were in pursuit of fruit.  They all seemed to be heading to, and returning from the same direction, which was back to where I live.  I took dozens of photos and then headed back.

Reaching for the fruit

Plucking the fruit

When I reached the point where I was almost back to the fruit, I stopped to listen  to a couple of chickadee's, hoping to see them.   Two things happened next, a vehicle passed by me at speed and a large flock of birds took off from the fruit tree directly behind me.  When I turned to look I noted that there were a few hardy Bohemians still perched in the tree and that the waxwings had managed to strip the tree of much of it's fruit in the half hour that I had been gone. 

A Close up

Set for Take off

I managed to get a few photos before another vehicle moved past,  spooking the majority of the birds into flight once again.  This happened several times over the next few minutes.  My best guess is that those who remained are either very determined to feast on the fruit, or are used to traffic sounds.

Stripped bare of fruit

Injured bird

Unfortunately a bus went by next startling the birds so badly, that one flew into the window of the house directly behind the fruit tree.  It struck the bay window with an audible thump. The poor bird struggled to fly to another tree nearby, but was injured enough that when all the other waxwings took off, it stayed on the branch on which it had landed, one wing drooping slightly and breathing hard.  It did not react to anything at all at this point, not my presence nor the sound of the traffic. 

I stayed and watched it helplessly for a few minutes, but there was nothing that I could do, when it was perched some five feet or more above my head, unless it fell.  It didn't, and I headed home hoping it was merely in shock; knowing that it was easy prey for any number of predators if it wasn't.  When I checked a little while later, the waxwing was gone.

Enjoy,
Susan

Corvids

For the most part it has been much too cold to take my camera out, but I did nip down to the little forest down the street for a short time at the beginning of the week.  The very first creature I saw was a Coyote, unfortunately the image I got was not in anyway good enough to add to this post.  Better luck next time.

After taking photos of some lovely House Finches, I came upon a Magpie who decided posing for me would be a good thing.

House Finch male

House Finch female

Black billed Magpie

Magpies, are in plentiful supply here in Alberta and are considered to be pests by many people.  However, they are handsome birds, with their black and white suit, and iridescent long tail.


Not long after taking photos of this beauty, I thought I heard a Pileated Woodpecker and followed the sound.  I heard it several times, coming from different directions.  Which was entirely too odd, given the speed with which he seemed to change directions.

It turns out Mr. Raven was playing tricks on me by mimicking  the woodpecker.  This is something that Raven's are very good at and provided me with a chuckle.  Raven's are capable of mimicking many animals, as well as human speech and sounds.  I heard a Raven mimic human laughter once, if that doesn't make a person smile I don't know what does.

Mr Raven showing off his tail

Perched in a tree

The Raven was flying from one tree to another and finally announced his presence with a deep croak.  I have seen a lot of this particular Raven, he is easily distinguished by a very deep voice.  Unfortunately, unlike the Magpie, he did not like to be photographed, although I did get some very nice photos anyway.

Enjoy,
Susan
   

Red-head Monday

Common Crossbill male

Today seems to have developed a theme all on it's own.  It all started at the bus stop with the return of the Common Crossbill, while I was on my way for groceries.  I had turned on my camera to catch a photo of a Raven carrying nesting material.  The neighborhood Ravens have been doing so for several days now, flying overhead each and every time I need to catch the bus.  When I looked up, after adjusting the settings on my camera, there was a little red-head peaking out at me from a pine tree like bush.  As you can imagine, I took several dozen photos of both the male and female.

Pileated Woodpecker male

After returning from my grocery shopping and lunch, I decided to head out again.  This time I went to the little forest down the street.  The first bird I saw was a Pileated Woodpecker, who was behaving rather oddly.  It turned out to be a male.  He wasn't pecking away at the trunk of the tree he clung too, he was too busy looking around.  A half hour later I figured out why.  There were two Pileated Woodpeckers in the little wood.  I believe love is in the air for these two.  The male kept trying to get closer to the female, but she was giving him a merry chase.  At one point they were three feet apart on two different tree trunks, but I just couldn't get an image of the two together. 

Common Redpoll

While I was observing the male Pileated's odd behavior, I also spotted a pair of Common Redpolls, another red-head.  The photos I got aren't very clear, as there was a lot of bush and branches in the way but I did get one in which the bird  is at least clearly recognizable.

Enjoy,
Susan

 

Winter colors

Raven climbing the sky

There was a time when it seemed to me that in winter all the color is leached out of the world.  But as I have discovered in the past couple of years, this is simply not so.  If you really look closely and do so when the light is in just the right place, the colors are actually more intense.

Golden

Today the sun was very bright and because the only bird I saw was a Raven, I amused myself by attempting to capture winter's colors on camera.

Moss Green, tan and brown

Muted green

Flaming Orange and red

Tan and gray

Gold,bronze, blue

light and tan

If you wish to see the colors of winter, just stand between the light and the object you are looking at.  Or, stand just slightly to the side.  The colors will take your breath away.


Enjoy,
Susan

One second with nature: February

No doubt it has come to your attention that my posts have been a little erratic of late.  Life has been sending a few curve balls my way, as it has for many others around me of late. So please excuse me while I attempt to adjust to my life's new rhythms. 

Wildflower

                                                            
Enjoy,
Susan

On a misty winter morning

I have recently had only one occasion to take my camera out on a walk.  It was a misty morning, the kind where the air is thick with not quite frozen fog, and although the birds were twittering quietly all around me, the only bird I saw was a Blue Jay.  The bright blue of his feathers seemed to stand out sharply from the dreary, half frozen atmosphere of the forest.

Blue Jay excavating the top of  tree stump

Digging for some grubs

Blue Jays are amazing birds.  Their curious, sometimes cocky, no non-sense attitude is very entertaining.  They are hardy and seem to have no trouble surviving, even in the worst of winters. 

Mr Blue Jay after the air  cleared

This particular Blue Jay stayed with me through out my walk.  Not following of course, but always there.  He was busy foraging for grubs or bugs, and any left over hazelnuts that all Blue Jays seem to favor.  Every once in a while I would see him disappear to the forest  floor, and reappear a heart beat later to pound away at one of the nuts with his bill, while he held the nut against the branch.

Enjoy,
Susan

A Magic Moment

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.

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.

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.

Downy Woodpecker

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.

Scarfing down a berry

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.

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