Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Birdy, Birdy, Birdy
The cold front that swept through today brought with it an astonishing number of birds to the backyard. Around noon, there were so many that I couldn't count and didn't know where to look first. Among the visitors was a red-breasted nuthatch - I haven't seen one of those for several years. Other "good birds" were a brown creeper, purple finches, white-throated sparrows, and a yellow-bellied sapsucker. Those were in addition to all the usuals - juncos, goldfinches, downy woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatches, robins, cardinal, mourning doves......have I forgotten any?
I've been looking and hoping to see some cedar waxwings, and I think I have, but I've only seen glimpses of field marks - a crested head, a yellow tail bar - not an entire bird. The last time I saw one was 2 years ago when they came through the yard and devoured all the winterberry holly berries. I'd gladly give up the berries for a good look at such an elegant bird.
2 Comments:
I can't remember if it was two or three years ago that our Bradford Pears and pyrocanthus (did I spell that right? The big bushes with lots of bright orange berries!) were full of cedar waxings. Haven't seen any yet this year, though I did have some rose breasted Grosbeaks at the feeders for a few days.
I got my cedar waxwing yesterday. It was eating the winterberry holly berries, but didn't stay long. Maybe it'll come back with friends.
I'm pretty sure it was two years ago that I saw big mixed flocks of cedar waxwings and robins, working over the neighbors' Bradford pears and my tiny hollies (both American holly and Winterberry holly). No pyracanthas here, but maybe I should plant some......a neighbor had a huge plant, but I think they cut it down.
I had one rose breasted grosbeak stop by the feeders in the spring a year and a half ago, but haven't seen one since.
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