Cedar Waxwing with orange tipped tail!
Full image #10500

There`s been a lot of discussion about Cedar Waxwings with orange tails on Carolinabirds. I didn`t notice the bird at left having orange when I was shooting these photos, but then again I am colored blind. If I recall correctly usually only one in 200 waxwings will have orange tips, due to diet of honey suckle berries when the wings are molting.

It was quite a feat to get these photos as it was along a busy road on a Sunday morning and each time a car passed by the entire flock of 250 Cedar Waxwings would take off and then return a minute or two later. Making it pretty tough to get just the right shot.

All these photos were taken during the Chapel Hill, NC Christmas Bird Count on December 24, 2000 along Farrington Road just north of Jordan Lake. I used my A2 Camera, 100-400 mm IS zoom lens, handheld with Kodak E100 VS film.

Cedar Waxwing "Maybe I ate too much"
image #10497

Cedar Waxwing eating a bradford pear.
Full image #10495

Cedar Waxwing picking the right pear?
image #10498

Cedar Waxwing "The lookout"
image #10499

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