Bohemian Waxwing - A Photographer's Dream

 It was just in early January that I saw my first Bohemian Waxwing. Now, I've seen hundreds! The best place in town to view these beautiful birds is near MUN where a dear lady there has invested a lot of resources to create a bird haven.

 The flock has grown over this last week to about 40 birds. When they first arrived, they were starved! She bought and chopped apples to keep them going. Then, she put out a call and an appeal for anyone to come enjoy the birds and please bring apples or berries. The call was answered and the birds are staying and thriving. They were so hungry in the beginning that they would almost let anyone touch them. Now that their tummies are full, they are taking breaks and staying at the tops of the trees.

The flock of these waxwings is lovely  but this bird is so spectacular that it really need to be showcased alone to accentuate their striking features.

The sun cooperated for a couple of days and provided the opportunity to get some sharp images that show the smooth texture of the feathers and the bold black and orange markings.

This bird has a raccoon mask or maybe he looks like the Lone Ranger, for those who can remember.

 I have been learning a new feature on my camera and it has really made a difference. I am very pleased with the many pictures that I have accumulated of the Bohemian Waxwing. I'm sure that there are thousands of shots of the birds being downloaded to computers all around the city.

 The touch of red that looks like wax really stands out in the sunlight. Not all of the birds had the bold red and I'm not sure whether they may have been females and/or juveniles. The yellow tips on the tail feathers flash in flight. These birds look like they are ready for Spring.

 These birds are like contortionist, they twist and turn in all sorts of strange body formations to reach food, dodge other birds and just generally get around.

These birds are delightful for all. Many have taken their children to enjoy the constant activity around this special bird sanctuary.

Thank goodness for those who care for the wild birds so well so that they can survive and be enjoyed by many.