Marshall was at our house Monday, backing up some files on my computer. (Yes, I should learn to do it myself. Yes, I could probably do it myself, but he does it so effortlessly. And I like having him visit.)
Anyway, while he was busy at the computer, something caught my eye out the window in the direction of the birdbath. At first glance, I knew it was a bird that I wasn’t accustomed to seeing.
The birdbath was a flurry of activity, with yellow-tipped tailfeathers everywhere.
We began looking in the Audubon Field Guide (which Marshall had thoughtfully given me a few years ago), and found Cedar Waxwings. Marshall is familiar with those, but the ones he has seen weren’t this colorful. These birds looked exactly like the pictures of a Bohemian Waxwing.
There was just one tiny problem. According to Audubon: “Breeds from Alaska, Yukon, Mackenzie, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba south to central Washington, northern Idaho and northwestern Montana. Wanders irregularly farther south and east during winter. Also in Eurasia.
“This handsome bird of the North Woods is a rare visitor to the northeastern United States in winter.”
Hmmm.. well, since we’re in Virginia, and it isn’t winter, this must not be a Bohemian Waxwing, unless they took a MAJOR wrong turn.
I love the mask; doesn’t this make you think of “Batman”? Or Darth Vadar? Okay, can you tell my son was a child of the 1980’s? (Click on pictures to enlarge.)
So, apparently, we didn’t have a rare sighting of a Bohemian Waxwing, but we did enjoy the Waxwings that DID visit, and it’s nice to know my files are safely backed-up once again. Thanks, Marshall.
these days of mine 