Another Frenzy. Now with Cedar Waxwing Goodness!

A few days ago I posted about the American Robin feeding frenzy at the cemetery. I had no idea I would experience another one so quickly! I was sitting at work noticing a lot of bird activity outside. Eventually, the stream of Robins was making me too twitchy so I headed across the street during my lunch break to see what I could find. Settle in for a lot of photos since I am having trouble editing this bunch.

I had forgotten that Brazilian Peppers were growing back there and now the berries are ripe. As I rounded the corner to the back of the woods the noise hit me. Robins were raiding the peppers big time.



Robins were all over the peppers and were even back in the woods and flying in from several directions.



Sometimes they would crowd together and other times they would wait their turn. Plenty of food for every one.



I could begin to hear a familiar high-pitched sound. Waxwings were around but it took a few minutes for them to come out in the open. I spotted my first one.



My first Waxwing of the season! But there would soon be many more.



It took them a little longer to come out of the shade but I was ready.



I was just about to get a good Waxwing shot when a Blue Jay came squawking through the crowd and flushed all the feeding birds. I would have to wait a few minutes for the birds to return. The Robins were always the first.



The Waxwings were growing more numerous and louder.



Brazilian pepper is very invasive and is spreading quickly throughout the state. In fact, this bunch of plants were not even here last year. Now they are nearly 20 feet tall and full of berries.



Secretly, I don't mind all that much. Like the Camphor most people want to get rid of, birds love the berries on but plant species. Of course, that means they get spread even faster. But, dang, it makes a pretty backdrop...



The only other problem was getting things in focus at times. The birds would flit around very quickly and at other times I would loose a shot when a Robin would land on a limb that a Waxwing was on and dip it out of sight. But then I could just take another photo of a Robin.



The next problem will be to decide which of the 200 photos I will add to the wall.



The vulture shadows also sometimes spooked the birds and they would take off, circle around and return.



I like this shot because, when viewed at full size, you can see the Waxwings tongue as he scarfs down peppers.



And how about those colors on the feather tips glowing in the light?



I think I like this shot the best since it also shows the crest, love the pose, and the color just works for me.



I am also just diggin' the feathers on Robins now that I am getting closer shots.



Frenzy Number 2 for the year. Sometimes the Cedar Waxwings feed heavily until April so I should be around some more flocks until the migration takes them all home.