They were everywhere. I heard them before I saw them. Each tall spruce held a portion of the waxwing wave that swooped over the field and that eventually came to rest atop the trees. The Bohemian waxwings arrived to be included in the Christmas bird count.

Watching them was like watching a ballet in the sky. They left as one big wave, tree by tree. I could see them land in the distance in the empty grain field. They gleaned the remaining grass seeds and grain. Once finished they swooped up again as one big wave and converged in the spruce tops until it was time to feed again.

After hearing and seeing them in action, I had to dig out my bird book to determine if they were Bohemian or Cedar waxwings. The red under tail feathers were signature markers of the Bohemian waxwings. According to the book, they are common winter visitors to this area.

I've seen Cedar waxwings clear a mountain ash tree of it's berries in a matter of hours but I've never seen them in such large flocks. To hear and see the Bohemians in such numbers was a first time treat and it was a delight to watch them in action.

The next time you are out for a walk and hear an amazing number of birds, look up. You may be as lucky as I was.