[Maine-birds] Western Tanager Saco River Trail

Sorry for the lack of info in the post earlier today. I did not have my glasses in the field, but Don Thompson & I wanted to get the word out about the Western Tanager asap.

Here is my Ebird list with photos.  I went alone, but saw Don Thompson and he was telling me about some of the warblers he had seen, when I spotted the Western Tanager at about 12:45 or 12:50.  We both had excellent looks excellent looks for about 5 minutes. It was flycatching and flitting about from branch to branch in the tree tops at the corner behind the Treatment Plant. This is the corner with the hill, the small stream coming out of the culvert and the phraghmites.  All the action was in this corner. Besides the Western Tanager, we saw Tennessee Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler and Nashville Warbler, along with Ruby Crowned Kinglet.  Don also found a Common Yellowthroat which I did not see.

While we were confirming the Western Tanager ID, and I was trying to alert Maine bird list without glasses, the Tanager flew away.  We finally relocated in the same general area about 2:15 PM - The Tanager was much larger than the warblers, a bright yellow & black with tanager bill and both a white and yellow wing bar. We both got decent photos.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26156221

Marjorie Watson 

Georgetown MA