Yesterday morning I spent some quality time with two small flocks of Cedar Waxwings feeding on crabapples. I got quite a few interesting photos but at this point I’ve barely had time to look at most of them. But it’s been so long since I’ve posted to Feathered Photography I decided to post this single photo today, in part because it’s so very different from all the others.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 1000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This waxwing really wanted to gobble down that single, slightly shriveled crabapple hanging down at upper right. “He’ made several attempts at grabbing it but it was just barely out of reach – seemingly a fruit forbidden by circumstances. Eventually he gave up and flew off.
I like the photo for its artsy-fartsy qualities, including the fact that the waxwing is well lit while nearly all of the leaves, twigs and fruit, including the tantalizing “forbidden fruit”, are in shade. Which put a subtle spotlight effect on the waxwing. This is the only photo I got that morning that looks at all like this one. Most of the others are of waxwings eating crabapples successfully or just perched contentedly amongst them.
I hope to post some of those other waxwing photos in the next few days.
Ron
Oh, a waxwing, how wonderful. And your “artsy-fartsy” composition reminds me of 1900s fancy wallpaper. Quite lovely. Thanks so much for posting.
Artsy-fartsy can have its charms. Thanks, Nina.
Stunning photo! Yes, more Waxwings, please!!
Thanks, Mikal. There should be more fairly soon.
What a fantastic photographer you are! It does look more artsy than photography indeed! Thanks for bringing joy in my life. Always have loved your posts.
Thanks for the very kind words, Beatrice.
It’s a wonderful photo. The Waxwings are on the move, heading North. In my California San Francisco Bay Area, we only see them in Winter. I had a small flock stop by the other evening to bathe in my large bird bath, along with their obligatory American Robin mascot. They put on quite a show in the bath!
As you have already discussed, the absence or the red, waxy secondary feather tips makes this a young bird. I look forward to your theories about why he was reaching for the “unreachable star.”
Best regards from Danville, California, but with many relatives in your neck of the woods.
Thanks, Barbara. And welcome to Feathered Photography.
We’ll see if my theory holds any water when I present it to my readers.
Fun to see you appear in my emails today. 😊 Enjoyed the photo also.
Thank you, Laurie.
Very pretty shot! I look forward to more from the morning.
Thanks, April.
Gorgeous! So good to see FP in the inbox today – hope “life” is treating you ok.
We had a big flock of Waxwings for about a week in the summer a couple of years ago – it was so neat to watch them flying in and out of the tops of the spruce trees, hovering and swooping, going after insects then. Haven’t seen them since, although the Merlin app tells me they are vocalizing occasionally along with the sparrows. Now I can look at your post while waiting for an actual appearance.
Carolyn, I haven’t been seeing quite eye to eye with “life” lately.
You’re lucky that you can hear waxwings. I can’t hear them, even when others (mostly women) easily can. I’ve heard theories stating that many men have difficulty hearing waxwings due to the high range of their calls.
Beautiful!
Thanks, Caroline.
Interesting picture! I like it.
Thanks, Tony.
There you are! I was thinking just yesterday it’s been too long since we’ve heard from our favorite Feathered Photographer, so very happy to find you in my mailbox this morning! 😊
This is a stunning image — not artsy-fartsy, it’s an art piece. Love waxwings, and this shot really captures all their elegance (and their habitat). One thing I noticed, this one is missing his red “wax” tips, so a juvenile, perhaps, and that’s why he’s going for the shriveled apple?
Thanks, Chris. Yes, this is probably a young bird as young birds often don’t have any red waxy tips. However, I suspect that ‘him’ going after the shriveled fruit didn’t have anything to do with his age. I’ll explain why I think that when I post more waxwing photos soon.
Love this, especially the “artsy-fartsy” element 👍🤣
Good. Thanks, Scotty.
Waxwings are so beautiful, and this photo really captures the beauty of the bird and the tree. It feels very much like a composed painting.
I have been missing your posts. Very happy to see one this morning.
Thank you, Bill. I’ve missed interacting with all of my blog followers too.
Wow!! This shot is IMHO one of your best ever. Agree with Shoreacres – very Asian style which is gorgeous!! Congrats! ❤️👏
Much appreciated, Kathleen.
What a lovely shot! What an elegant pose the Cedar Waxwing has! The neatly folded wings, the yellow tips of the tail, the sharp side profile of the head, clearly focused on getting that crabapple.
I can see this shot being the cover of a birding calendar, or as the bird for the month of March. 🙂
“I can see this shot being the cover of a birding calendar”
Thanks, Amy. I’ve considered publishing a bird calendar in the past but never got around to it. I should have this year especially, since I don’t have a current physical calendar and wish I did.
BEAUTIFUL photo. One that I would LOVE to hang in my home!!
Thank you, Judy.
What a beautiful image. It has a somewhat Asian feel, like a Chinese silk scroll. What a treat to end up with this one!
“It has a somewhat Asian feel”
I thought so too, Shoreacres. I almost mentioned it in my text.
So you finally got a Waxwing visit. Excellent. Very nice photo Ron.
Looking forward for more. If you have berries they will come.
Thank you, Everett. Yes, we still have “berries” (crabapples). I’d be down there this morning if the light was any good. It isn’t.
Beautiful! They are such elegant birds……… 🙂 Haven’t had any this winter so far. The ornamental crab trees are a prime target when they show up tho they will be disappointed this year as they’re long gone.
Helluva blizzard Sat. with about 10″ of snow here. Lots of roads closed or severe driving. With temps close to 70 later in the week it won’t last long….. We are dry, dry, dry. At least the wheat got some cover(if some stayed on the fields) for the sub-zero temps Sat. night! Don’t need winterkill on top present lack of markets/inputs etc.
Judy, these crabapple trees are still loaded with fruit – probably because our mild winter has meant that birds haven’t been feeding on them as much as usual.
The life of a farmer is tough. There are several reasons I wouldn’t have been a good farmer and one of them is that I don’t handle worry well. “Worry” is a farmer’s middle name…
I admire this photo– maybe BECAUSE it’s “artsy-fartsy”……I’m
so looking forward your new post– I’ve never seen one of these
beautiful birds in the flesh…….
“I’ve never seen one of these beautiful birds in the flesh”
Kris, I’ve only seen two waxwings all winter, which is unusual. Then yesterday I found two flocks of them, with perhaps 20 birds in each flock. All of them feeding on crabapples.
It is very artsy. When I first saw it reminded me of an Audubon drawing pose.
So nice to see you post Ron.
Thanks, Michael. Good to know I’ve been missed… 🙂
Didn’t realize other species shared our longing for forbidden fruit. Great shot.
“Didn’t realize other species shared our longing for forbidden fruit.”
Makes one wonder if it’s a universal behavior, or nearly so. Thanks, Burrdoo.
Wonderful shot, artsy-fartsiness and all! So interesting that the waxwing is going for the shriveled fruit when there are some luscious looking ones right at his feet. Wonder if there’s something “fermented” about that particular piece. 😉
“So interesting that the waxwing is going for the shriveled fruit”.
Marty, I have a theory about that, which I intend to present when I post additional waxwing photos. It’s a food selection behavior I noticed quite a few times.
Definite teaser, Ron! Looking forward to your next post! 💜
Love this one, Ron. I don’t often find Waxwings “out in the open”. Nicely done!
“I don’t often find Waxwings “out in the open””
I don’t either Diane and I didn’t yesterday, except for this one. In nearly all my other photos the waxwing was in a very busy setting with shadows cast on its body. But the feeding behaviors were interesting and fun.
Thanks, Ron. Such a pleasant surprise when you show up in my Inbox these days
I know, I’ve been pretty absent lately. Sometimes “life’ gets in the way. Thanks, Kate.
Love the photo! He has that “caught in the act” look.
Thank you, Woody.
That’s a beautiful photo. I’d frame it !
Glad you like it, Mary. I’m pretty fond of it myself.