After a tip-off from Jesper about some Japanese Waxwings in the Summer Palace, I spent a couple of hours there on Saturday afternoon. Eventually, after dodging the crowds to get to the north-west corner of the park, I discovered a mixed flock of Waxwings in a quiet corner. Unusually, Japanese outnumbered Bohemian by about 4 to 1. They were very loyal to a couple of ‘leylandii’-type trees, to which they frequently flew down to feed before flying up to some tall poplars to preen, rest and eat a little of the snow that had fallen overnight.
Despite the very overcast conditions, I was able to capture a few pleasing images.
Japanese Waxwings, Summer Palace, Beijing, 26 February 2011. Note the pale belly, bright pink tip to the tail and fiery-orange undertail coverts.
The black on the back of the crest can be seen well on the bottom left bird.
Japanese Waxwing take-off
Japanese Waxwing: close up of the wing and tail patterns
Wow, Terry!
Omedito Gozaimasu (Congratulations!!)
What an absolute pleasure those photographs are! ( And one of the benefits of that soooo cold winter you’re having! )
I didn’t get out today, so this has been my “fix”.
Best and thanks!
Norm
And p.s.
I meant to say that the kind of waxwing we have in the States is a Cedar Waxwing, and they would be right at home in the tree you pictured (perhaps a kind of Juniper as is the so-called Red Cedar in the eastern U.S.)
You are lucky to have Jesper so close to steer you to such finding (waxwings if not junipers).
Best,
Norm
( Sorry – I correct myself before someone else does it. It’s “omedeto”, not “omedito”. )
N.
Thanks Norm..! There is a good article on 10,000 birds about how to separate Bohemian from Cedar. You can see it at: http://10000birds.com/cedar-waxwing-vs-bohemian-waxwing.htm
Now if only a Cedar found its way into one of the flocks currently around Beijing….
Ask Jesper if he can’t arrange it
))
N.
Just lovely. The are a bit prettier than our Cedar Waxwings here in the states. But then again I find all birds quite magnificent. Cheers!
Terry!
Have you seen?? There’re so many waxings now that you can’t see the Great Wall!
Norm
Ha ha.. Yes, they are everywhere….! Four still in Ritan Park this morning and Jesper reported 100+ still at the Summer Palace.
Thought the blog header needed freshening up so this image of waxwings will stay for a while..