Thursday, January 31, 2008

Bohemian Waxings in Townsend, Ma. 1/31/2008

Occassionally, I like to make a few quick stops along West Meadow Road in West Townsend, during my commute to work. Over the years, I've found some nice birds such as Northern Shrike, Cackling Goose, Glaucous Gull (years ago, when there was a dump nearby), and 4 Sandhill Cranes last spring.


Cedar Waxwings and a Bohemian
Yesterday, 1/30, there was a flock of 50 Cedar Waxwings working some oriental bittersweet across the corn field to the north. I stopped again today and about 75 Cedars were "teed up" by the road about 50 yards away. While scanning the flock, I heard a Bohemian Waxwing calling and was able to find it a minute or two later. The flock moved a few hundred feet away and joined more waxwings, I heard a Bohemian call again and I finally found another. Half the birds flew off, circled and perched beside the road about 75 feet away. The digi-bin photo (below) does not do this bird, in the early morning sun, proper justice.

One of my winter favorites!

3 comments:

Kathie Brown said...

Wow, Bohemien waxwings! That would be a life bird for me! While we live in Tucson now, my husband and I are from the east coast and we considered moving to Athol at one time! Nice Blog.

Tom Pirro said...

Thanks Kathie, Athol is very close to gardner, and has The Athol Bird and Nature Club, with many well rounded birders, bug people and naturalist.

Larry said...

That's great Tom! I hope more move in to Conecticut so I can get a chance to see one.