I’m always glad to hear the shrill whistle of Cedar Waxwings. We’ve had a small flock sitting in our bushes and drinking from the bird bath this week.
“If you can hear the birds singing, you’re in the right place.” – Benny Bellamacina
Cedar Waxwings
cedar waxwing
Then Came the Sandhill Cranes
Late on a cold, crisp afternoon, I stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air and take in some of nature’s sights and sounds before nighttime fell on our little part of the world.
A small flock of cedar waxwings, with their high-pitched whistles, flitted about in the sky before temporarily settling in the top of one of our maple trees.
A group of grackles shared an adjoining maple tree, the males puffing out their feathers and bellowing out raspy squeaks in an attempt to outdo each other.
A robin peered down at me from its perch in the top of a neighbor’s tree.
Then I heard them — the faint and familiar sound of a bird that I have been looking forward to seeing since they returned to their wintering grounds at a nearby refuge. Flying high above, they slowly came into sight — my first seasonal glimpse of the Sandhill Cranes.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” ~Maya Angelou
On their journey
Every spring, a flock of cedar waxwings stop by to feast on holly berries in our neighborhood. They are sociable birds, feeding cooperatively and often seen sitting together, lined up on tree branches early in the morning or late in the afternoon. After a few days, when the berries have been plucked from the bushes, the waxwings continue their nomadic journey in search of other food.
“Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter.” ~ Izaak Walton
Signs of spring all around
A recent leisurely walk in a wooded park on a warm, sunny afternoon revealed ample evidence that springtime is finally here.
“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want — oh you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” ~Mark Twain
Cedar waxwings
For the past several days, a small flock of cedar waxwings have been sunning themselves in the bushes in our back yard in the late afternoon. They seem to want to soak up every bit of sunshine that they can before the sun sets and the temperature drops.
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” ~Charles Dickens
Cedar Waxwing
It is always a joy to catch a glimpse of the Cedar Waxwings when they wander into our area searching for berries. Their high pitched whistle, as they call back and forth to one another, usually gives their presence away.
“I love berries. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black berries, anything with an ‘errie’ in it!” ~Jordin Sparks
Cedar Waxwing
“Be not forgetful to cherish the gifts each moment brings.” ~Mother Teresa
Feeding flock
Earlier today, a flock of American robins mixed with cedar waxwings descended upon the holly trees in our front yard. They systematically harvested the berries and then quickly moved on to their next destination. What a treat to watch these beautiful birds in action!
walking on a country road 