Eastern Bluebirds and Cedar Waxwings

It may be winter still here in New England but splashes of color can pop-up in the most unexpected places.

I was in Portsmouth Tuesday and leaving the office for my morning walk, as I stepped from the building I caught a glimpse of a bird in the bushes just in front of me. Looking closer I was so excited to identify my first ever Cedar Waxwing. What a beautiful bird he was sitting so still in the bush and in a perfect place to stop and admire him. Eventually, like always he flew off to the trees surrounding the courtyard and I followed his flight to a branch. Only to realize there were about 40 more Cedar Waxwings in the tree !

Today, after yet more snow fell overnight, I headed out to the front yard to clear the snow from my feeders and to refill the empty sunflower feeder. Finishing the job quickly as the chickadees and the titmouse's waited in the lilac bushes, I headed back inside.

From my kitchen the sliding glass doors provide me with a perfect view of my feeders and access to the screened in farmers porch. As I stood there watching all the birds jockeying for position I realized I had a new visitor to the feeder. Quickly grabbing my binoculars and I studied my new visitor. Three bright blue birds were perching on the poles waiting there turn to eat. watching for a few minutes I found that they were waiting for a turn at the suet feeder that was filled with a suet cake of fruit and berries. Picking up my field guide I identified my newest visitors as Eastern Bluebirds. Over the time they visited I had three males and one female.

Its such a pleasure to host these little splashes of color during the white of winter.