Santa came a few days early to deliver a Christmas surprise to my parents’ backyard – a young male Western Tanager! My mom has been spotting this “bright yellow bird” for several weeks. She didn’t realize she had a rarity until my dad took his camera outside and got some great ID shots. Western Tanagers typically reside in the western United States, ranging from California to western Texas. Cousins of our Summer Tanagers, only a few Western Tanagers are reported in Florida each year.

The bird doesn’t go on my life list until I photograph him myself. Now I have an end-of-year resolution! ;-)

Merry Christmas to all!!