I have a dear aunt Teresa in Helena, Montana, who has reported sightings of Bohemian Waxwings in her area on a few occasions. I've been envious, as I had only seen Cedar Waxwings here in central Minnesota.
This past weekend I was on a walk in the woods outside Duluth with my wife and a friend when we noticed a flock of birds at the edge of a meadow. They struck me at first as Starlings due to their short tails and chatty, squeaky calls. I worked closer and pulled my telephoto lens to my eye, instantly recognizing a new species for my collection. I knew them well from my Sibley bird guide and considered them a short-lister. I had found my species #161.
I watched for ten minutes or so, thoroughly enjoying their cheery chatter and acrobatic feeding. Here are a few of the many shots I captured, hoping I'd get some in sharp focus.
Camera: Canon 7D Mark ii
Lens: Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Aperture: Auto (f/5.6-6.3)
Shutter: 1/640
ISO: Auto (125-320)
Exposure Compensation: +1
Processing: Lightroom (custom bird presets with manual adjustments)
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