Had a good encounter with some Pine Grosbeaks at the Arboretum in central Ottawa. They were feasting on a ready supply of crab apples. (Click on the images for full screen view and then click again for even greater enlargement!)
MALE PINE GROSBEAK
Would someone please give him a hanky!!
FEMALE PINE GROSBEAK
Bad table manners seems to run in the family!!
BOHEMIAN WAXWING IN FLIGHT
My old friends the Bohemian Waxwings, not to be outdone by the greedy guts Pine Grosbeaks, give me a flypast and alight in a Juniper bush.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING FEASTING ON JUNIPER BERRIES
Good shot for the inspection of the feather detail along full length of bird.
BOHEMIAN IN GOLDEN CRAB APPLE TREE
It was the oddest thing. The Bohemians were very skittish as I witnessed from a distance two passes by a Merlin falcon and a Coopers Hawk (both unsuccessful I might add!). However if I stood quietly by a crab apple tree the Bohemians would seemingly follow me from tree to tree, often approaching to less than minimum focus distance. Finally I lured them into a golden crab apple tree just as the afternoon light was dying. Shameless little showoffs!! (Do you think this would work with Angelina Jolie??)