. . . . . of another kind!
Cedar waxwing: Bombycilla cedrorum
These are the Cedar waxwings stopping by the garden for a very quick visit to drink at the birdbaths. They are rarely seen because they're so quick both in flight and visiting.
I've only caught them one other year, 2016 (see last photo), along with the visit this past week. While sitting near the window, a flock of about 20 waxwings descended out of nowhere, making their high-pitched whistling sound. . . . . . and I almost fell over myself trying to grab my camera! Unable to get a good shot of the group at the birdbaths, I did get a few of individuals perched for a minute in the fig tree.
Besides their 'trendy' masks, you can see their fabulous red and yellow tips. Male and female have the same pointed crest and colors, the yellow belly and bright markings.
These sleek-looking beauties - they actually do look as if they have been dipped in wax - are partial migrators here in the Carolinas, wandering in winter to find food supplies. Usually seen in flocks, they move from area to area looking for berries, spending most of their time at the tops of tall cedar trees eating the small blueberry-like cones.
This was the previous fleeting visit in 2016 when I also managed
to get a few photos of these beautiful birds.
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