Bohemian Waxwings fly-catching aerial insects

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Today I drove to the Holcim Wetlands east of Florence,CO to check on Great Blue Heron nesting. Didn't see any evidence they were refurbishing last years nests or building new ones but spotted some unusual looking 'fly-catchers.' Turned out to be a small flock of about a dozen Bohemian Waxwings sallying out from a dead tree adjacent to the Arkansas River. This irruptive species has been reported about 15 miles north of here in El Paso County in the past several weeks. I had not heard of this before but I have very limited experience with the species. I checked Birds of North America (BNA)online and found the following: "Noted for sallying from exposed perches, often near water, to feed on aerial insect." Exactly what I had observed.

Interestingly there were a lot of Russian Olive trees loaded with their fruit that about 50 robins were feasting on. Though BNA noted that Bohemian Waxwings do eat Russian Olive fruit in the winter these birds stayed high in the dead tree getting their protein. The top two pics show the distinctive rufous undertail coverts and grayish body found on this species. SeEtta

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