Posted by Elena on April 18, 2004 at 20:22:49:
I went birding for a couple of hours at A.D. Barnes park today as part of the birdathon. I saw two species that I have never seen before, and am not entirely sure what they are. The first was all red, and definitely not a cardinal, he was perhaps 7-8 inches long, and had a beak more like that of a mockingbird. He was perched resting perhaps 30 feet up in an oak tree. The best ID that I can give for it is a Summer Tanager, and I was wondering if anyone out there had seen this species in this area or if anyone could confirm this ID.
I also saw a small vividly blue bird in a willow by the lakeside that I unfortunately could not get a good look at, as the wind blew and he was gone. He was small, perhaps no more than 5 inches, and he appeared to have grey wingbars, or at least a bit of grey on his wings at rest. He also possibly had a minimal amount of darker coloration on his crown, but I'm not sure. Nor did I get a good look at the shape of his bill unfortunately. If anyone out there has any idea what this little bird may have been, I would really appreciate any input! Thanks!