This morning in Cobourg between 9am-12 noon I saw a female tanager on the east side of College Street between James Street and King Street. My wife said there was a yellow and green bird with a slight crest outside our window and I rushed to look. After a moment's disorientation, I soon concluded it was a female Summer Tanager because of the large and long light-coloured beak, the full yellow underparts, and the fact that the greenish wings were the same colour as the mantle and back. I called Margaret Bain who rushed over and saw the bird and fully concurred with my ID. The only thing that troubled me was was how bright the yellow was when I first saw it, though it was in full sun. Later the yellow seemed more subdued. I tried to make it into a Scarlet, but it just would not fit.
After some research by Margret we learned there have been at least 3 other Summer Tanagers in Ontario this November, but no Scarlets. The closest Scarlets are in Cape May and Florida; none in Ontario - they seem to have all moved out. The bird flushed a number of times but usually landed within a hundred yards. It was never higher than 20 feet or so, usually about 6 feet off the ground. Last seen before the rain two houses north of St. Peter's Church at the north-east corner of College and King Streets. Rob Lonsberry came over to photograph the bird but we could not refind it. RP _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
