Cedar Waxwings
Adult Cedar Waxwing perched in willows – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I had a nice time photographing Cedar Waxwings yesterday morning as they perched in willows next to a creek and while they were on the wing catching insects in the Wasatch Mountains. As usual I heard the waxwings before I saw them in the canyon. The stand of willows is on the far side of the creek which is actually a nice distance for using my 500mm with the 1.4x teleconverter attached. Most of the time.
I liked how the adult Cedar Waxwing in this photo was framed by the leaves and branches of the willow.
Fluffed up adult Cedar Waxwing in a stand of willows – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And in this image I liked how the waxwing had fluffed up its feathers and its crest. The touch of blue sky in the background added a little visual interest too.
At one point I noticed a small mayfly type of insect briefly land on my lens and I suspect that might be what the waxwings are chasing after in the air.
Begging Cedar Waxwing – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I mentioned that the willows being across the creek were a nice distance for using my 500mm with the 1.4x teleconverter attached and most of the time it was except for when I took the series of images of this adult Cedar Waxwing. You might wonder why so I will explain.
This adult was actually to the left and below another waxwing and it appeared to be begging for something from the other adult and I could not get both birds fully inside my viewfinder because the other bird was higher in the willow than this one was. I could have turned my camera vertically but then I wouldn’t have had enough width to fit both birds in the frame without clipping parts of the waxwing that kept fluttering its wings so I kept my camera as it was and cropped the headless bird out in post processing. I thought that was really a shame because the other waxwing as just as sharp as this one was.
Adult Cedar Waxwing lift off – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I didn’t manage to take any decent flight photos of the Cedar Waxwings yesterday but I liked this photo of one of the waxwings as it lifted off from the willows. I think that in order to get nice flight photos at this location I’d need to get out of the vehicle I was using as a “mobile blind” which restricts my movements and set up my tripod where I’d have the ability to quickly point my lens higher or lower and wouldn’t have to bother with rolling the window of the “blind” up and down or move to exactly where I want to be at any given moment.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Cedar Waxwing photos plus facts and information about this species.
Absolutely stunning series of pics. Cedar waxwings are way up on my [ever growing] list of faves. Thanks Mia.
That takeoff shot is something else! The rest are none-too-shabby as well. 🙂
Yet another beauty we don’t have. Many thanks.
Gorgeous, wonderful shots! I love “Begging Cedar Waxwing”!
Great photo! So much drama! 🙂
A few years ago, I was fly fishing on the Frying Pan River in Central Colorado. A prolific Green Drake mayfly hatch was in progress with the bugs coming of the water everywhere. Suddenly, many cedar waxwings showed up and started capturing the mayflies all around me. Few of the Green Drakes could get more than a dozen feet off the water until they were hit. A truly amazing show of nature! BTW, the fishing was great, as the trout were hitting the Green Drakes underwater and on the surface (and my artificial fly).
Absolutely beautiful photos.
Great shots, I’d frame the second shot!