Posted by Roberto on August 02, 2002 at 00:39:54:
Thanks to the help of Larry Manfredi, who suggested my mystery bird might be a waxbill, I did some web searching and found this bird that closely matches what I saw at Matheson on Monday, 7/29. Here is a link to a pictgure of one:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/8809/id40.htm
It's a Gold-breasted waxbill (Amandava subflava), and are found in several African countries. The one I saw is obviously an escapee. Still, it's pretty cool to see something new, especially something so unexpected.
My post on 7/29 gives the location of where I saw it, but I went there again on Thurday and did not see it. Did see a black-and-white warbler, a black-whiskered vireo, and lots of parulas, redstarts, and gnatcatchers. Happy birding!