Saturday, August 6, 2011

Last week I was at the pond in the park near work
photographing damselflies. I had been noticing one
or two birds flying above the pond feeding on insects for
weeks and while they did not look like swallows I never got a
 good look. But now there were lots of them, all nesting on
a  small island. A closer look and I realized they were
cedar waxwings, I had never seen this behaviour
but a look at a reference book and the Cornell Lab
of Ornithology site confirmed it. There were eight or more
waxwings taking advantage of the protection offered by the
small island in the pond. I like watching birds but I really
like experiencing behaviours I have never seen before.
And it was another lesson in paying attention to nature and
the wonders of background reading.







"But nothing you ever understand will be sweeter, or more binding,
than this deep affinity between your eyes and the world."

Mary Oliver
Terns



4 comments:

Unknown said...

They are the most beautiful and fun birds. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Guy said...

Hi Gary

Thanks I am still trying to figure out how to leave comments on your blog.

Regards
Guy

Kathie Brown said...

I remember the first time I saw waxwings flycatching! It was over the Salmon river in Connecticut. I knew they ate berries but I did not know they could act like flycatchers! Love the quote at the end! Oh, and good for you!

Guy said...

Hi Kathie

It is always fun to see a bird you are familiar with do something new as a reward for your attention. And I do love Mary Oliver, I like her focus on nature and use of language.

Thanks for your comments.

Guy