[EBB Sightings] Western Tanager at Lake Merritt

Hello Lisa and all,

I believe the bird  you saw and photographed is a Saffron Finch (or similar 
species).  As I  recall, this species has been reported previously in the 
Lake Merritt area, and  it would be an escaped exotic.

Although the coloring is similar to a  breeding male Western Tanager, you 
will notice that the bird in your photo has a  "finch bill", and the wing 
pattern it wrong for a WETA.  A beautiful bird  nonetheless!

Regards,
Kathy Robertson
Hayward, CA

In a  message dated 1/2/2010 7:46:01 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
lazar.bauer at earthlink.net writes:
I've been entertaining a friend from  Minnesota, by visiting the can't-lose 
birding spots.  Bay Trail, between  Emeryville and Cesar Chavez, Arrowhead 
Marsh, the fake lake in Union City, the  ghostly nursery on Niles and 
Nursery in Fremont, and Lake Merritt.

The  birds did not disappoint!  I'm not going to list all the wonderful 
birds we  saw, since so many of you saw them too, over the last few days.

But I  will mention seeing what we *think* was a Western Tanager in the 
Community  veggie gardens across from Lake Merritt.  We were watching 
goldfinches, and  saw a shocking blob of orange-y yellow.

Photos are over at  Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisascenic/4239561814/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisascenic/4238786037/

Do  all y'all agree? Is it a Western Tanager?

Lisa  Lazar
Oakland
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