Cedar Waxwing, Day Brook Pond, W. Kennebunk ME

I took a photoprowl out to the Kennebunk Plains and Day Brook Pond yesterday. There were hundreds of dragonflies, many of them newly emerged and on maiden flights, with Itheir wings still soft and full of light. Dancers (damselflies) of some sort were also emerging in high numbers, and where dancers emerge you are bound to find Cedar Waxwings picking them out of the grass and air. I watched a flock of 6 or 7 Cedar Waxwings hunting and feeding all around me. One flew by within arms reach, on its way to a dancer in the grass, and several posed as close as I have ever seen a Cedar Waxwing. This bird was photographed at 2000mm equivalent, and you can see a great deal of feather detail. That is pretty good, considering that the Cedar Waxwing has some of the most delicate plumage of any bird…more like hair than feathers. In this shot, I really like the eye with its clear reflection. I can’t quite see myself in it, but close. 🙂

Nikon P900 at 2000mm equivalent field of view. 1/500th @ f6.5 @ ISO 320. Processed in Topaz Dejpeg and Lightroom.

This post is dedicated to my friend Rich, who loves Cedar Waxwings!