The waxwings are here!

I was in my backyard checking on my little fish pond yesterday afternoon when I heard a very welcome sound emanating from my neighbor's big pecan tree on the far side of her yard away from me. Zeee, zeee, zeee came the familiar sound of a well-loved winter bird. I looked up to see the outlines of their bodies against the sky.

Cedar Waxwings, those dapper birds of winter days, had arrived just ahead of a cold front.

I always look forward to the coming of the waxwings and mark it as the real beginning of winter in my yard. In some years, it is nearer the New Year before they first appear, but this year they've come before Christmas, a real Christmas present for this birder, and even though it was almost 80 degrees in my yard yesterday, I thought, yes, it really is time for winter.

(These are some pictures of the birds from previous years.)

Whenever they appear, these beautiful birds always bring a smile to my face.