Robin flocks

A sign that winter is progressing are the flocks of robins, descending on berry-laden hollies. They're not unlike the cedar waxwing flocks, taking turns swooping down on the hollies and back up to branches on the bare oaks. They're both sociable winter birds: a nice piece from Journey North that I just found describes their behavior.

The birds I heard and saw today outside my office in the Garden had a melodic murmur; without my (regular) glasses or binoculars, I couldn't see them clearly, but based on the sound, they may have been cedar waxwings (also from the Journey North site courtesy of Lang Elliot) rather than the robins I saw at home recently.

Both are welcome signs that winter is moving towards spring.

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Cedar waxwings and robins

While briefly poking around the internet this morning (reading about growing kohlrabi and asparagus from seed, converting the White House lawn to vegetables,etc.), a sudden descent of a large flock of cedar waxwings crowding around the birdbath and water dishes caught my attention.

They were avidly loading up on water, probably after a berry feast somewhere nearby. There were robins visiting, too, reminding me that I need to refill the dishes.


The weather is mild, now, and the water's not frozen, and there's a feeling of spring to come (we have lots of quince flowers that are open now).

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Cedar waxwings and bluebird

Late this afternoon in the Garden, I saw a large group of cedar waxwings swoop around and settle in a flowering hickory. Taking a few shots (without a good zoom lens), here's a view of a couple of cedar waxwings and a bluebird.

There was also a mockingbird in the group, but they were largely cedar waxwings.

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