Vermont Rare Bird Reports 2018

Cheryl Donlon

Clear bright later in afternoon rain cloudy

Zeiss 7 x 42 Digital Camera 70 x 400 lens zoom at 200

First seen 10/22 afternoon late in day

On railing by arbor covered with old English Ivy Chickadees, Goldfinch, nuthatch and 1 hairy woodpecker

It was eating the berries off the Englash Ivy perching on the railing and top of arbor

Sounded like a distorted Robin not as loud kind of muted

Saw a bird with orangey red head at tail base and under tail same color. It was eating the berries.light greenish gray color over wings a round bird plumped up like a scarlet tanager but bigger longer beak thicker beak

7 to 8 inches long plump round bird

Crown round orangey red color no Crest like cardinal, was all orangey red color,around eye same color, orangey red throat nape same color

Feet black, Bill was not black but not yellow either kind of in between, Bill size less than a Robin but bigger than a scarlet tanager, not like afinch or pine grosbeak

Upper part of back orangey red

Rump is orangey red like the head, lower back light orangey red

Light greenish grayscale of wings like a scarlet tanager but not black no markings

Breast is a lighter color like inside of a cantaloupe, belly is more orangey red splash, flanks are again like inside of a cantaloupe color

Average straight tail with a slight v notch not black like a scarlet tanager more greenish gray on top side of tail underside is orangey red no markings on tail

Thought it was a Hepatic when first observed due to low light conditions when since again in full daylight was able to better identify as the colors popped and camera pictures confirmed. Knew it was not a scarlet tanager, purple finch not an Oriole or a pine grosbeak

Belived to be a 1st fall Male going on to adult. This is so far North could have been misplaced by hurricane Michael which went through all of southeast. Been here for two days welcome to see ifvwant on vermont list.