Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds "Occidental Pallid-Tanager"
Date: May 11 21:38:54 2012
From: Carol Riddell - cariddellwa at gmail.com


Hey Tweets,

Now that I have your attention, nope it's not a stray from South
America where many species have hyphenated last names. I was at the
Willow Creek Hatchery this evening and saw a strange bird in one of
the deciduous trees. It was larger than an empid or a warbler, with
pale yellow undertail coverts, two wing bars, a longish, thick light
orange bill, and a very pale yellow wash on the breast. The only thing
I could think of was Western Tanager, either a female or some plumage
aberration in a male. After looking at a couple of field guides, I
concluded that it was the first time I have ever seen a pale female of
the species.

It has been a birdy day on the south side of the Edmonds Marsh. Among
others, Dennis Duffy had what I presume was his first Yellow Warbler
of the year, since he took the time to mention it. This evening there
were Wilson's Warblers, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Black-throated Gray
Warblers, and Warbling Vireos. We seem to be getting the rush the day
after the tanagers and Yellow Warblers were arriving in the Seattle
area. Even though there are no International Migratory Bird Day plans
in Edmonds, it should be a good day to check out some of the public
areas.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds