Wow, nice pictures! And what a crop of berries on that tree! Al, robins are insectivorous in the breeding season, but change to eating fruit the rest of the year. That's how they manage to winter over (which they do in some number all across the prairies - almost any well wooded area, where people are out looking, will have a few recorded on Xmas bird counts), and how they survive their early migrations in March, when few insects are out and snow may cover the ground. Seems like strange behavior but apparently many groups (warblers, vireos, thrushes, etc.) are fruit-eaters on their wintering grounds, but feed themselves and their young on insects during breeding. The reason I say it seems strange is because on the wintering grounds (e.g. Central/South America), I'd guess insects would be plentiful. Perhaps insects provide superior nutrition during breeding and nesting (protein?)...just a guess. Konrad, the young you see in late summer are most likely Cedar Waxwings (as these are the common breeders on the prairies) - they are easily distinguished by yellow undertail coverts (the area on the underside of the tail and vent area that's brown on Bohemians, visible on your excellent photos); they also have a different wing pattern. If you are interested, keep an eye out for cedar waxwings in your flocks of bohemians; they are normally migratory but it is not too uncommon for one or two to hang out with a flock of bohemians and winter over with them. And the closer you are to the mountains, the greater the likelihood of seeing the odd bohemian, out of range, in the summer. Yes, amazingly beautiful birds - always such a pleasure to see!

Cedar waxwings are probably my favorite bird. I used to live in a tiny cottage that had 2 huge yaupon hollies loaded with berries. The robins and mockingbirds didn't take much interest in the berries until the waxwings would start to show up. They would stand guard as the visitors gathered on the powerline. Finally, one waxwing would fly down to the yaupon and draw the guard away. The others would then all swoop down and start their feeding frenzy. After a day or two, the berries would be completely gone. Once, I happened to look outside to see an amazing sight. The waxwings were covering my yaupon, and flying down in a vortex to a nandina bush under the tree. It looked like a cedar waxwing tornado. Now, since I've moved, my yaupons are much smaller so I don't notice any hoards of waxwings doing their business. I usually see them now whenever I hear their mournful song. I'll look up in the bare trees and sure enough I'll see a flock of them. Often this time of year I can also see them doing a little dance right off of the treetops. I think they are eating gnats or some flying insect.

Fantastic photos of the bluebirds and waxwings together. That is luck to see them together, let alone get a good photo. We have waxwings here all summer, but so often they are high up in trees, most people don't notice them. They like black cherries, and when i canoe the river i see them flycatching alot. And congrats newyorkrita on your bird garden paying off. Glad the Wentworths were well used, so many people report birds not touching the highbush cranberries. I saw cardinals picking at them once, but i think they were only after the pits inside. I may have to think about planting a Cardinal Candy viburnum. Winterberries - ive never had those last late in the year. I had a robin that would camp out until they were all gone, in December.

Good shot dante- idk how to 'add' people or what you mean, but nice pics! Deanine thanks! I just got a new camera with a better zoom to it- I was looking at dslr's but, the weight with the additional lens on it- due to an injury I have w my arm, I couldn't shoot w it, so- back to point n shoots for now til/if I get better. I have a Canon powershot sx40, and also a Sony d-700 (or something like that idk lol) I love them both, you can find a good camera on craigslist believe it or not~ Just always ask HOW MANY photos they've taken with it, once it gets up over 1000-2000 they lose their sharp/crispness in the pics.