Yesterday I hiked for a couple hours with a few friends on The Lower Trail (Blair County), starting at the Mt. Etna trailhead. The day was sunny and warm (40s) with lots of blue sky (Public Domain photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
To start, the woods seemed silent, not a bird to be seen or heard. Things quickly changed when one in our group pointed out a Great Blue Heron flying low over the sparkling river below (Frankstown Branch of the Juniata). Next an American Robin posed in the naked branches long enough for each of us to take a good look. And then a Black-capped Chickadee offered us his two-note song fee-bee, fee-bee, fee bee--Yes, things were definitely looking up! Yet something quite wonderful still awaited us.
That's when someone pointed out a Cedar Waxwing--a crested bird with sleek, colorful plumage and a black mask like that of an elegant outlaw (see my prior post of 8/26/09). No wait, not one Waxwing--make that two. Actually a small group snacking on the black berries of wild privet (a bush). But each Waxwing that flew from this bush drew our eyes to yet another cluster of birds and still another . . . on both sides of the trail, behind and ahead of us. We were surrounded by a large flock of beautiful Cedar Waxwings.
For 15 minutes we stood watching and listening to these birds with pale yellow bellies, light brown heads, a tail trimmed in bright yellow, and a "dollop" of bright red on the wings (a waxy secretion from which the bird gets its name). Our presence appeared not to bother them in the least. They ignored our gawking and tended to the task at hand--eating berries. Finally, cheered on by a Downy Woodpecker, we forced ourselves onward, leaving our magical moments behind.
Well, not quite. Did I mention the brash, rattling Belted Kingfisher?
What a lovely day it was.
Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!
Georgia Anne
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