Downtown Charleston - Cedar Waxwing Photography

Each spring in the Lowcountry there are "signs" that winter is nearing completion, and often it is the birds (and other animals) that are telling us with their presence and activities, that they know another season cycle is beginning. Flowers in bloom early include forsythia, quince, azaleas and telltale trees are redbuds and pears. In my experience one of the most abundant signs of spring for the outdoorsman is the presence of cedar waxwings. These birds are already in the Lowcountry, and will linger for some time feeding on available stocks of red berries, but their gregarious nature makes them a signpost that everyone should be able to spot. They congregate in groups or flocks, from 15 to 150 birds, and have a high-pitched heeeeee-heeeeee call that is easy to recognize when they are singing. Experienced birders will also be able to recognize the call of the cedar waxwing, because it is one that is absent from their ear for most of the year. The cedar waxing is a grey bird with a yellow-ish belly, a black eye mask, a distinguished head tuft, and a notch of yellow at the end of its tail feathers. I recommend that birdwatching families and amateur photographers look for the cedar waxwings downtown; their frequent haunt is at the corner of Ashley Avenue and Bull Street. The birds gather in deciduous trees that have lost their leaves, and they zip back and forth singing their song and offering photography opportunities when lit. If you don't see them at first, I recommend walking around the block of Ashley Ave., Bull St., Rutledge Ave. and Bennett St. until you have heard them, and then you can follow your ears to them. Morning and afternoon tend to be their most active times of the day, so chances of spotting them then  are best. This is a great example of how urbanites can get outdoors for a bit during a beautiful spring day and accomplish a bit of birding or photography. Be polite in helping others locate the birds and who knows, you might cross paths with Lowcountryoutdoors.com.

My photos show cedar waxwings perched in a tree on Ashley Avenue in downtown Charleston.