Perched on standing deadwood, eyes tuned to the buzz in the sky.
Shooting high into the air, snatch ‘n down the hatch.
Patience, precision.
Back again to the weathered post, a frolicking, feathered acrobat.
Winter Birds At The Lake Beach
Upon arriving at the lakeside beach on a mild winter afternoon, a bluebird perched on an exposed branch of a female Eastern red cedar. Other birds moved quietly among the cedar limbs, mostly hidden but clearly present, gleaning berry snacks among the foliage. Deep green cedar branchlets were laden with plump blue berries. The wind was calm, the air refreshingly cool. Hikers moved soundlessly along a trail toward a point overlooking the lake.
Above a tree in a small grove, a small bird flew up and down repeatedly. I sidestepped in slow motion until a bird settled on a high perch that came into my view. A gray-brown warbler with a yellow side bar and yellow rump stared into the bright blue sky.
Then, without warning, the warbler spun into the air, its yellow rump flashing. It twirled to reveal its yellow sides before turning and diving back to its favored landing high above the ground. Pausing, it again moved its head up, around, and down, its white throat clearly visible. Suddenly, with a sharp display of white wing patterns, it launched in pursuit of a treat. The sequence repeated, a brief loop of launch, snatch, and return.
A survey of the shoreline and beach revealed the red cedar grove as a haven for winter nesting and feeding. Their thick, dense branches formed an almost solid wall, hiding nearly everything within. Birds landed in the female red cedar trees to feed on its blue “fruit.” The small, round globes are actually blue cones dusted with a waxy pale powder. Though not true berries, they contain one to three seeds and are a favored winter food for many birds.
The yellow-rumped warbler can digest the waxy coating of cedar cones as an energy source. This adaptation allows it to winter farther north than most other warblers, which migrate farther south.
There it was, a cedar waxwing with a tawny brown head and back, sitting
motionless and peering out from the cedar hedge. It hardly looked like a bird at all, eyes hidden behind a narrow black mask. With a softly brushed yellow belly, the muted tones of its plumage functioned like a hunter’s camouflage.
Several birds shift from insects to berries as winter approaches, then return to insect prey in spring. Bluebirds, robins, cedar waxwings, and yellow-rumped warblers are among those well-adapted to the change.
© 2026 Vicki — All photographs and text are protected by copyright and may not be used without permission.