Christmas Bulbs

How many posts can I start by writing about what a cold day it was? It was a frigid day in Western Mass when I took these shots. I was walking down Button Shop Road when I saw this woman standing in the middle of the street transfixed on the sky. Looking up I saw a tree that was crowded with little yellow puff balls. We spoke for a while as I took pictures. She was convinced that she had stumbled upon a winter colony of gold finches, though in fact these look very much like Cedar Waxwings. I had to leave before our debate came to blows. At the Meekin's public Library librarian Rochelle Wildfong confirmed my assertion.

The sunlight caught the yellow breasts of these birds and lit them up in a way that I was, sadly, unable to capture on film. They were like little lights dancing on the barren dormant branches. Here is a closer shot.