Meet the Cedar Waxwing

I noticed them hanging about, 

high in the bare branches of the willow by the pond.  

Ordinary black birds, I thought, 

Nothing special about them, 

except for the way they swooshed in magnificent synchronized flight, 

circling up the Hollow, back again, 

twirling in Figure 8 formation 

before settling all together back in the tree. 

And then one morning, using my zoom, I snapped some photos.

Turns out they aren't black, and they're far from ordinary.

I think they might be my favorite bird now,
with their black eyeliner and gold-tipped garb.

Let me introduce you to the Cedar Waxwing.

(I love my zoom.)

Do you see that bit of yellow on the tail feathers? Amazing!