Cedar Waxwing perched on a serviceberry branch – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday morning I stopped to take a series of Cedar Waxwing images as a small flock of waxwings perched in a serviceberry that has just finished blooming. I heard the waxwings calling before I saw them so I knew where to look.
Later in the summer I will find Cedar Waxwings feeding on the berries of these shrubs if the fruit forms this year. Last year many of the serviceberries in this location didn’t bear fruit because of the ongoing drought conditions in Utah.
I’m hoping for a better crop this year than last for the birds that feed on these berries. It is too early to know if that will happen but the mountains are much dryer than they were just last week which isn’t a good sign of things to come.
Cedar Waxwing calling from a serviceberry – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
One of the Cedar Waxwings I photographed yesterday was calling while it was perched in the serviceberry. The pose of the waxwing showed the yellow tail tips and the red waxy feathers on its wings that give this species their common name.
Yesterday I heard and saw more Cedar Waxwings than I have since spring started. It was good to see these silky masked birds and have them in my viewfinder again.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Cedar Waxwing photos plus facts and information about this species.
A beautiful portrait!
We miss those high-pitched calls and can’t wait for their return in the fall. This past spring we saw many more than in the past. Not sure why. Slight change in their migration route perhaps.
A truly beautiful thing. I really, really hope that the fruit sets this year.
Those tiny areas of yellow and red always make me smile. So cool!