Sept. 24, 2017 - Cedar Waxwings and Berries

Diana and I are just back from our annual Fall trip to the North Shore. Mountain Ash trees seem to like the climate along the lake and they produce red berries like these. The berry crop seemed greatly reduced this year but we did find some in the town of Grand Marais.

MountainAshberriesGrandMaraisHarbor20170918

I also found a small flock of Cedar Waxwings near the campground in Grand Marais. The streaky brown plumage identifies this bird as a juvenile.

WaxwingCedarjuvenileMountainAshtreeGrandMaraisHarbor20170918

Cedar Waxwings are fruit eaters so the Mountain Ash berries provided them with a feast.

WaxwingCedarjuvenileeatingMountainAshberriesGrandMaraisHarbor20170918

My camera allows me to take a burst of photos by continually holding down the shutter button. I think it takes 6 pictures per second. I took several sequences of a bird plucking and eating a berry. Here’s the first shot in this series of 8 photos.

WaxwingCedarjuvenileeatingMountainAshberriesSequenceGrandMaraisHarbor20170918

The first thing to do is find just the right berry.

WaxwingCedarjuvenileeatingMountainAshberriesSequenceGrandMaraisHarbor20170918

Sometimes the bird has to be a contortionist.

WaxwingCedarjuvenileeatingMountainAshberriesSequenceGrandMaraisHarbor20170918

Finally, the berry is pulled away from the stem. Look closely and you will see the bird’s tongue helping to steady the berry.

WaxwingCedarjuvenileeatingMountainAshberriesSequenceGrandMaraisHarbor20170918

More tongue work in this photo.

WaxwingCedarjuvenileeatingMountainAshberriesSequenceGrandMaraisHarbor20170918

It’s in the mouth but will it fit down the throat?

WaxwingCedarjuvenileeatingMountainAshberriesSequenceGrandMaraisHarbor20170918

It’s on the way down.

WaxwingCedarjuvenileeatingMountainAshberriesSequenceGrandMaraisHarbor20170918

Ahh, that was good!

WaxwingCedarjuvenileeatingMountainAshberriesSequenceGrandMaraisHarbor20170918