Chirps and Cheeps

True to form, you can wait and wait and wait for a life bird - and then, when you finally see it, you end up seeing it multiple times afterward!  Sure enough, that's what happened with the Bohemian Waxwing.  I saw my first one at Fort Niagara exactly two weeks ago (thanks to Alec Humann and Joe Fell's great find!) and then yesterday (thanks to Linda Holmes), I got to see one again only minutes from my house.  And not just ONE Bohemian Waxwing, but FIVE!  I heard there may even have been six there, but I saw five, for sure.

What a treat this sighting was - and the fact that such a rare bird was just a few, short miles from my house, was icing on the cake.  When I pulled into the parking area, I noticed the trees with berries on them alongside the driveway.  I'm not sure what kind of trees they were, but there were at least 25 - 30 Cedar Waxwings in the branches making their high-pitched "zeeee" calls - and there was the trill of the Bohemians mixed in. I saw the first one almost immediately - its cinnamon undertail was a dead giveaway.  The waxwings were quite active, moving back and forth between these trees and some others more to the east.  It was hard to get a good count and to keep track of them.

I slid down in my seat and, using my car for a blind, I was able to get some better shots this time.  One Bohemian, in particular, gave me some great views.  A male Eastern Bluebird was in the area as well as a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, two Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, and a Tufted Titmouse.  On my circuitous drive home, I came upon some more bluebirds and another Red-tailed Hawk.

Back home, our Eastern Screech-owl continues to show every couple of days or so.  We've named him Sherman and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to show the little guy to my kids and grandkids the other afternoon.  I set up my spotting scope in the kitchen and they all got really nice looks at the owl as it soaked up the afternoon sun.  I hope s/he decides to nest here!