Cedar Waxwings have arrived in the SF Bay Area
September 16, 2007 on 12:21 am | In Bird Alert |
Greetings, Birders!
This is just a quick bird alert post to announce that one of our favorite birds, the Cedar Waxwing, has just arrived in the SF Bay Area. I saw a birding report this week that mentioned them being spotted in West Sonoma County, in Sebastopol, and yesterday, we saw them in the more eastern part of the region near Kenwood, CA. Our glimpse was merely of a flock passing high over head, but the soft zeee, zeee, zeee calls left us in no doubt.
What other wild bird can rival the Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum, for sheer elegance? His smooth-as-wax plumes and softest fawn hue makes the birder long to reach out and touch this beautiful bird.
It does seem to me that mid-September is a mite early for the Cedar Waxwings to have arrived. I normally associate these birds with the ripening of the persimmon trees where they flock in tremendous numbers, gobbling up the vermilion fruits as soon as they are ripe. The persimmons are still pretty green around here, but perhaps the waxwings are dining on the last of the blackberries.
Are you seeing Cedar Waxwings in your neck of the woods? Know a never-fail spot you could share with new birders who would like to check these fine fowls off their lifelist? Please feel free to comment here. And, please, read our in-depth article on the Cedar Waxwing to learn more about this wonderful bird.
Fall is certainly setting in. Woodpeckers everywhere. And now, the sleepy, hazy cry of the Cedar Waxwing graces the air. It’s a great moment in the Bay Area birding year.
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I think I’ve only seen ONE of these — when we lived off Hwy 116 by Guerneville… He was pretty far away and my field glasses aren’t so hot… But, from his general shape and color (and top-knot) I was pretty certain (after reading all of the descriptions of what bird it might be that it was a Cedar Waxwing… Gorgeous bird!
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Comment by theflowerlady — September 21, 2007 #
Absolutely one of my favorite birds. Try staking out persimmon trees in your new neighborhood and you may have a chance of seeing a whole flock!
Comment by info — September 22, 2007 #
On the evening of 10/2/07,I noticed a small flock of about ten birds in my backyard tree in Napa. I had never seen this bird before, so I grabbed my “Birds of Napa County” and there they were! Cedar Waxwings! They didn’t stay very long, but I enjoyed watching these elegant visitors, if only for a few minutes. Now I will be keeping an eye out for more.
Comment by pinotnut — October 3, 2007 #
I was so excited when I found about 20 waxwings in my landlord’s corkscrew willow yesterday! They were eating the last of the toyon berries on the only bush around that still has any berries left on it across from his house. I got quite a few wonderful close-up photos of them, too! (I posted them on Photobucket.) Their little “masks” make them look like they’re going off to a Mardi Gras costume party or something!
Comment by theflowerlady — March 12, 2008 #
Hi Flower Lady,
I love your description of the masked birds!
Truly, these are some of our most beautiful birds in Sonoma County. Their colors and soft plumes are exquisite.
Thanks for sharing your excitement.
Comment by info — March 14, 2008 #