Cedar Waxwing sighting

[traveler]

So how common are these guys? I can't say as I've ever seen them before, but sitting outside last night a flock of about 12 came in and started chowing on the blossoms on our apple tree. VERY cool looking birds, I was pretty sure what they were but grabbed the binocs quick and got a great look at them. Alas, they stuck around for about 10 minutes and then took off like they were late for an appointment, and didn't return. I then read a bit about them and it doesn't sound like they're a "feeder" bird, so i don't hold out lots of hope to see them again. This was north of Duluth.

At the cabin on Red lake, we have 2 nesting pairs of rose breasted grossbeaks and one pair of orioles. along with a pretty good flock of goldfinches, some purple finches, and the usual chickadees, nuthatches, etc...

[Jim Almquist]

Keep your eyes open and you might just see them come back and eat a few more blossoms. At my house in Carlton it seems like 2-3 days and they are off to the next place to chow.

[traveler]

Unfortunatly the trees are out of line-of-sight from the windows so we have to be outside to see them. So have you seen them year after year Jim? How about after the trees are done blossoming?

[Jim Almquist]

Now that I have learned to watch for them while they are in bloom I have seen them the past three years. It is the only time that I get to see them. If you have Crab trees they will eat them when they are ripe. Would love to have them hanging around all year long.

[Dotch]

They're annual visitors down here and as Jim says, they tend to hang out in the crabapples and apple trees. That's all done now for us so haven't seen them in a while. They suddenly reappear in the fall once the leaves drop to pick at the crabapples, chokeberries, dogwood or nannyberries and then vanish again. If we blink sometimes we miss them.

[traveler]

I guess thier black "masks" kind of suit thier run 'n gun style!

I'll be sure to keep a sharp eye peeled for a return visit as long as the apples trees are in blossom. Thanks!