Every photography opportunity is also an opportunity to learn, to add to the previous gained knowledge and to engage with nature. Even if at the end no image was worth keeping, other opportunities are still achieved. Coming across 650 to 700 Bohemian Waxwings one cold morning during the winter was a wonderful opportunity. Being in the middle, the waxwings beautiful call was nature’s version of surround sound. After taking in the visual, it was time to decide how I wanted to take their picture. I had several options, but I only focused on a few. One of them was when some started consuming juniper berries. The way they were moving around the shrubs, it looked like chaos to my eyes. But they were in full control. For several minutes I was hoping to get a picture of one waxwing with a berry in its bill, I got three. After spending about twenty-five minutes among them, they decided to move on, leaving me with memories on my camera and on the sensor in my head.
Bohemian Waxwing
Birds bring colour to any day, no matter the season. In this case its in the form of the Bohemian Waxwings, a bit of a colour on their face, on their tail wings and on their sides. All highlighted by the light on a sunny winter morning.
Bohemian Waxwing
On a cold morning, about 100 Bohemian Waxwings were busy eating juniper berries. With cold temperatures they need to consume extra calories to maintain weight but also to have energy to stay warm and as well to survive the cold nights when they don't eat. Between consuming berries they were taking water breaks.
Bohemian Waxwing
The Bohemian Waxwings were back for the late or early winter harvest. Eating away sugar rich fruits off the trees. The light was low, getting sharp pictures of the birds was going to be a challenge. Occasionally one would stay still long enough for me to get a sharp picture. But I was also trying to get images of them in flight, not caring if they were sharp, just wanted the images to indicate in motion or flight. That meant I had to focus on one and wait until they took flight and then take the picture. It was trail and error, but after a short while I got the pictures I wanted.
Until next moment,
Amar
Bohemian Waxwings
When they needed a break they would fly up to a spruce tree close by. They did not mind me as they flew by me time after time, being close enough to hear the sound of their wings. Hour had passed and they were still at it, I was getting some good shots and had no plans to leave until I was out of memory cards. The wind and the snow picked up, I kept my back to it, protecting my gear when not taking pictures. Another half hour passed and now I was under the tree they were eating from, it was getting cold but the images I was getting kept me warm. They were now all around me, few times getting hit on the head and shoulders with what
remained of the fruits after it went through them. After spending all together about three hours, I left them still going strong with my memory cards full, time well spent.
Until next moment,
Amar
Bohemian Waxwing
Its fun taking pictures of Bohemian Waxwings when they are on an eating frenzy. Too focused on eating, which lets me get close and focus on them with my camera. I moved around the tree to isolate the birds I was taking pictures of. Enjoyed catching them in all kind of crazy positions trying to grab the fruits of the tree. I never get tired of them,always getting new images to entertain me.
Until next moment,
Amar
Bohemian Waxwing
It was about three weeks, when we were not thinking about the deep freeze. It was much simpler time, about zero degree when I came across about 30 Bohemian Waxwings on the Admin. grounds. They would fly onto the tree that contain the energy rich food, not all at once, some would be eating while others could be heard on the nearby trees. They would take the fruit by their bills and swallow it whole, pause and take a another. They were going at the tree like if there was going to be no tomorrow.
I visited the same spot the following day, and could not locate a single fruit on the tree, just what was left on the ground. It was fun watching them, except they were making me hungry, thought about joining them, but waited to eat my apple instead. I spent about a half hour watching them, and taking pictures. Every five minutes or so I would take a step closer to them to get a better picture, they were comfortable with me and went about their business, left them, visually content.
Until next moment,
Amar