Cedar waxwings finally arrive

[Howieh]

When I arrived home after 5pm Sunday the tree in front of my house was full of robins and cedar waxwings with a couple of starlings thrown in for good measure! Backyard birds have also picked up with starlings, grackles and mourning doves joining the regulars which include sparrows, chickadees, cardinals and a downy woodpecker, and despite the cold spring must be around the corner because the male cardinal is singing up a storm!

[Howieh]

No robins but there's a huge flock of waxwings in the treetops behind my house (easily reachable with my SX50). Now if only the sun would come out...

[thouc]

Check for Bohemians in those flocks. They seem to be on the move north right now.

[Howieh]

I have lots of pictures, what's the best way to tell them apart? Btw, my neighbourhood redtail showed up and the waxwings disappeared! Hopefully they will be back because there are still lots of berries available!

[thouc]

The easiest way is the undertail coverts, Bohemians have red ones, while Cedars have white.

[Howieh]

For the record, I finally(!) looked at the pictures (downloaded to a flashdrive and displayed on a large screen tv) and they were indeed bohemian waxwings. Incidentally, if anyone is thinking of picking up a super-zoom P&S here's a plug for the SX50. Those waxwings were probably more than a hundred feet away and the light was lousy (dull overcast) but a little positive exposure comp. shows good colour and lots of detail, and even my neighbourhood redtail, who hangs out in the woods across the street, is now within range - I strongly suspect that my overweight gear will have lots of quiet time this summer!

[Rotarran]

For the record, I finally(!) looked at the pictures (downloaded to a flashdrive and displayed on a large screen tv) and they were indeed bohemian waxwings. Incidentally, if anyone is thinking of picking up a super-zoom P&S here's a plug for the SX50. Those waxwings were probably more than a hundred feet away and the light was lousy (dull overcast) but a little positive exposure comp. shows good colour and lots of detail, and even my neighbourhood redtail, who hangs out in the woods across the street, is now within range - I strongly suspect that my overweight gear will have lots of quiet time this summer!

That's what I use and I see a lot of birders/photographers with the same camera.  It has its limitations but I am ok with it.  The light weight, relatively low price and amazing zoom ability makes it a nifty choice.  It kinda acts as my binos/scope until the ones I want finally arrive.