Western tanager - three sightings in two days!

Western tanager eating an insect, Kentucky / Alleyne Provincial Park near Merritt, BC.

I remember seeing my first western tanager many years ago; it was at a distance, but the moment remains burned in my mind.  It was a long time before my second sighting, and then, while camping near Merritt, I saw one on three separate occasions.  

The above photo was the first of the three encounters.  I must have gotten forty photos.  The cool thing was that it saw an insect about ten feet away from me; it flew down from the tree, picked it up, and returned.  That was an amazing moment!  

The second encounter happened while I was paddling my kayak.  I was near the shore of Kentucky Lake when a tanager flew down, landed in the water, and started bathing.  I brought a camera and long lens with me for just such an opportunity (I keep it in a case or a waterproof bag) and took more photos.  One is below.

Western tanager bathing in the cold waters of Kentucky Lake.

The third encounter was near our campsite.  We were out for a walk and a tanager flew into a grove of trees.  I pointed it out to a nearby camper who was taken in by the bird's vibrant colours.  

What a great experience it was to see these birds in such quick succession.  

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com


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