Earful of waxwings

Yesterday at lunch I stepped outside to hear a chorus of cedar waxwings nearby.  I glanced around for them and they were congregated in my neighbors rain gutter getting a drink as best I could tell.  They hung out for a while so I snapped some photos and the video below.  I guess there were about 12 or so in the group, which as I learned from iBird, is called an ear-full or a museum (two places you can find wax, clever).

Photos 1, 2, 3, 4

I need to get a better camera.

Today while taking out the trash I spotted a flock of about 30 Cedar Waxwings sitting in my neighbor’s tree.  I could hear their unmistakable winter whistling.  Seems like the only time I ever see these birds is winter time and I can only spot them after hearing them.  Despite their pretty splashes of color, they are pretty hard to spot in leafless trees against the winter sky.  Nevertheless, I always enjoy seeing them when I can, from their crests, their buff colored bellies, paint tipped red flight feathers and similiarly yellow tipped tails, they are real beauties.  Read more about them here: Cedar Waxwing.