[EBB Sightings] Western Tanagers in yard- Richmond

Yesterday (Monday) afternoon had close looks at a male
and female Western Tanager at my home near Richmond
(between Arlington Ave and Bernhard Ave near Wildcat
Canyon).  I could have sworn I'd seen them here before
in previous years, but they weren't on my yard list,
so this may be a yard first.  They were in the same
small plum tree where our seed feeders are- possibly
attracted to the ruckus of the Black-headed grosbeaks
trying to balance on the small slippery plastic
perches on our tube feeders...

Unfortunately, I have not resighted the probable
Cassin's Finch that was here last week.  Purple
finches continue, as do the pine siskens, although the
thistle sock is now much more likely to be monopolized
by a pair of Lesser or American goldfinches than the
mixed gangs that would visit in the winter.  Also, we
are down to a single Golden-crowned sparrow.

Good birding,

Alan


Alan Krakauer, Ph.D Candidate
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology 
3101 Valley Life Sciences Building
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-3160
Office: (510) 642-7888 
fax: (510) 643-8238  
krakauer at berkeley.edu