I am a birder. There is almost nothing I enjoy more than heading to a local park (or my backyard) to see what might be flitting about.
But, I didn’t come by this love of birds naturally. Oh, I enjoyed helping my grandmother fill her bird feeders with cracked corn and she taught me what a cardinal was. But, I really just wanted to watch the squirrels. I was a mammal person. I loved spotting deer in fields during drives in the Texas hill country. I was thrilled when I first saw a fox cross the road. It wasn’t until I was a volunteer with a local wildlife rescue group that I began to appreciate birds. More baby birds and injured birds came into our care than mammals. I started to learn to identify birds and learned about their needs and behavior. It was seeing them close up that made all the difference.
This time of year one of my favorite birds to look for is the Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). I will hear their sweet high pitched notes above and look up and see a flock of up to several dozen birds land in a tree. At a distance they may just be dark silhouettes with a crest on their heads and they don’t look particularly interesting. If the light is good and the binoculars handy, their beauty is revealed. Against a blue sky they are magnificent looking with a black face mask, red wing tips, and a bright yellow tail tip.
Cedar Waxwing in Burr Oak (photo by Betty McCreary)
I wonder what or who else in the world I might learn to appreciate by looking a little closer?
Natural Musings 
Very nice photo. Looking forward to seeing more.
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Thank you!
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I learned something! Thank you for the great photo, because I can never see birds in such detail even with binoculars. I’ll look for these birds.
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Thanks! That photo was taken one March, so they should be around a bit longer.
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Wonderful start to your blog. And, a great photo. I look forward to future entries.
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Thank you!
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Very good writing and photography.
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Thank you Ann! I appreciate your supportive words.
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Can’t wait for more! You’ve had a very interesting outdoor adventurous life and can wait to read about your times out in the wilderness of South Texas pursuing your bird photography. I’m sure all your readers will enjoy that!
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Thank you Sher. Good idea for future writings. Stay tuned!
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Hi Betty – What a great start! That picture is awesome, and I love how you started off with some personal history. I will be looking forward to the next installment!
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Congratulations Betty! I know you will enjoy continuing with this. I love the photograph. Long lens?
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Thanks Joan! Yes, the photo was taken in my backyard with a 600mm lens in March of 2010.
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What a beautiful story and info on this spectacular bird! The photo👌🏽
Just fabulous!!!
😊😊😊😊
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Thank you Corrine! I actually think I saw some silhouetted in some trees and flying over as I left the salon today.
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I love the cedar waxwings too – this is a great photo. You make a good point at the end. So nice to have found your blog Betty and better yet, to have met you!
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