Yesterday afternoon, a large flock of cedar waxwings turned up on our Littleton farm. After feeding in a line of junipers, they gathered in a large elm where I was able to easily count them (42 as it turned out).
While rather common, cedar waxwings are nomadic when not nesting and often move about in sizable flocks. Nevertheless, non-birders are likely unaware of their existence since they are rather quiet and unobtrusive birds (see Polite Visitors).
Checking my original field guide, I found that I saw my first cedar waxwing in Kent, Ohio, in October of 1976. I still remember the experience since it was one of the most exotic birds that I discovered during my first year of birding. On the other hand, I was 26 years old, documenting the fact that I had walked the planet for more than two decades without knowingly encountering a waxwing. Clearly, we cannot appreciate the diversity of nature unless we make the effort to explore her ecosystems.
