Bird Irruptions
Bohemian Waxwingsby Dan Hartman
Jan. 5, 2020
It is almost impossible to drive through Yellowstone this winter without sighting the flock of Bohemian Waxwings. There seems to be a large flock of 1500-2000 Gardiner-Mammoth-Undine Falls and a smaller flock of a few hundred Yellowstone Bridge-Lamar Canyon.We have waxwings in these areas almost every winter but not at these huge numbers. It could be the dry conditions up north last summer paired with our wet summer has caused the invasion. They like to feed in the pinyon pines, a wet summer has caused the trees to explode with nuts.
Also, common to most of you, but rare at our elevation, two dozen evening grosbeaks have appeared at our feeders foraging with the native pine grosbeaks. These are our first in thirty years.
Martens haven't been very consistent around our cabin so far this winter, but our male did stop by for Christmas. Also, a mother moose with her twin calves.
Photos
The Cabin
Bohemian Waxwings
Evening Grosbeak
Evening Grosbeak
Christmas Marten
Christmas Moose