Here’s another encounter of the ‘ordinary’ yet not so ordinary. A yellow bird is very common for those living in warmer climates. But for me, it’s a rare sighting. I was so excited to see something bright yellow moving among the branches. Can you spot it? 
A better view as I quietly got closer: 
but just for a short few seconds, and then it was gone, fleeing from a lone paparazzo: 
I followed the yellow bird from tree to tree for well over a half hour. I did not know what kind of bird it was; I did not much care. That would come later when I got home. At that moment, I was too preoccupied with fixing my eyes on it, to whatever perils may come. I was stalking high and low among last year’s flood debris of fallen trees along a damaged landscape, trying not to trip without looking down at my feet.
Finally, a clearing: 
Yellow, black and red contrasting fresh green leaves and a pale blue sky in the backdrop, a colourful picture.
Eventually, he seemed to appreciate my tenacity, and rewarded me with a couple of poses: 
Only after I’d uploaded my photos later and checked the features did I identify what bird it was: The Western Tanager. This one is a male in breeding season. “These birds live in open woods all over the West…” so says the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. They may be common, but this one is unique because it’s the only one I’ve seen. That makes it special for me.
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Photos in this post taken by Arti of Ripple Effects, 2014. Please DO NOT COPY or Reblog.
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Ripple Effects 
Great capture, Arti. Sometimes a yellow bird (usually an oriole) will visit our bird feeder, which is outside of our kitchen window, but even so close I don’t get photos.
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Thanks Cathy. Umm… could be because you see them so often, just outside your kitchen window, you wouldn’t take their photos. This one was special to me because it’s so ‘rare’, for me anyway. 😉
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Such gorgeous photos! I love the way you presented them in this post, taking us along with you as you got closer and closer, ending with the final beautiful shot. This must have been an amazing experience for you, especially since you were able to capture such delightful photos through your tenacity.
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Sandra,
Glad you like the narrative too. Yes, I tend to be a linear storyteller. 😉 Thanks for stopping by the pond.
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We don’t have any yellow birds like that here on the East Coast. I see mostly Cardinals and some blue birds that might be Blue Jays.
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Sean@His and Her Hobbies,
Maybe you have the Baltimore Oriole too? They are yellowish/orange and black.
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What a show off! (the bird) He was posing. Your patience was rewarded with that last shot. Fantastic! I am going to get a photo of the satanic robin that has been tormenting me. I’m inspired! LOL!
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Michelle,
I’m sure you have more colourful species down in OK than us here in Alberta. Go look for them. I’d love to see your photos! 😉
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I am in awe of the egrets and pelicans. I don’t know much about the small birds, but I do have a pair of cardinals and many robins in my back yard.
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What a beautiful bird. That last photo was definitely worth all the effort you went to!
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Joy,
Yes, I was much gratified. Mind you, I didn’t know I got a good photo until I went home and uploaded them. So, it was quite a surprise.
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A lovely one to add to your life list.
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Teddee Grace,
Yes, the Western Tanager was a new species for me. I hadn’t even heard of it before this.
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He’s lovely, good for you for being so persistent. and not falling.
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Irene,
Thanks. It was tricky to climb and step over fallen trees and rocks and stones while keeping my eyes up to follow a flight path. 😉
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Such dedication to get the good shots.
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Ginny,
It was pure pleasure for me.
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I know how exciting it is to find a new bird, this one is especially gorgeous, and you did a great job of being tenacious, and were so well rewarded. It’s certainly a bird you’ll remember, and I’m sure you’ll see more.
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Louise,
Yes, hopefully this year I’ll have the chance to see more. I love yellow birds. Last year I saw a Baltimore Oriole and Goldfinch. They may be common in other areas south or east of us, but for me, they were rare sightings. Hope I can see them again this summer.
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I’m glad your tenacity was so well rewarded. that last pic in particular, is stunning.
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Brona,
Thanks. I was quite surprised and gratified, yes.
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Oh, that last photo! I hope you have it enlarged into something very big and beautiful. It’s gorgeous — and the photo is wonderful — perfect clarity, dazzling color, and as you noted, a genuine pose. Of course he posed. He knew he had nothing to fear from you. I love this. Intensely.
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Jeanie,
Thanks so much for your kind words. And yes, I’d like to think that was what’s on his mind: gratifying me by posing. Although, I kind of speculate that maybe he was as curious about me than I was about him. Just that he didn’t have a camera with him. 😉
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Well, you got much better photos than I did with my mystery yellow bird. Such a pretty fellow with that bright cap. Thanks for the bird ID link, by the way. I poked around a bit but am still not sure about the ID.
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I know it’s hard to ID an unfamiliar bird. They can look very similar. Just by looking at your pics I really can’t tell much details. Maybe you can send your pics to the website or Cornell Lab of Ornithology (link in my post).
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Thanks to the site you listed, I think I narrowed it down to “lesser goldfinch” and a couple of other commenters confirmed! The little guy has been back, munching on the verbena and, sadly, a bee.
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Great shot! So nice of him to come out into the open. I know what you mean about the treacherous landscape. Many times I’ve stepped in holes and tripped over fallen branches. But I understand the excitement of finding – and stalking – a new bird.
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This used to be a nice park area with picnic tables and lots of beautiful trees. I’d seen bald eagles on them and in the river, Mallards, Goldeneye, Mergansers, and a Pelican once. But now it’s all ruined by last year’s flood. It’s sad just to look at the landscape there now but sighting the birds always bring new hope of renewal.
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I recognized him as a tananger,but only from photos. I’ve never seen one myself. Your tenacity certainly was rewarded. I’ve learned over the years that certain birds are more accepting of humans than others (or of other birds, for that matter). And some, who’ve not experienced humans, haven’t learned to be afraid. Whatever was in his little birdie mind, we’ll hope you come across many more that allow you to “capture” them in this way!
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Linda,
The pleasure and thrills of birding is in the search and ‘capturing’ and ID of them. Actually, not much tenacity is required because it’s pure pleasure. I wrote the narrative imagining what the bird might think. Maybe it was just by chance he came by me, or maybe, he was thinking I was scouting for a mag cover or casting a new movie. 🙂
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You have a real talent for photography. Beautiful.
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Thanks Nicola. 😉
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Very nice shots & story.
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Thanks for your kind words, Micheline. 😉
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The last picture is a stunning portrait! Handsome bird!
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Thanks, Barbara. I was quite surprised too to see it turn out like this.
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Terrific shots of such a handsome bird, Arti! I’m glad that it was willing to pose for you.
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Yes, that’s what I like to think, that he came near me to draw my attention, knowing I had a camera on hand… possible celeb. shot to go viral. He wished. 😉
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What a beautiful bird! And his colors fit right in with the bright spring colors. Do you keep track of all your bird sightings?
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Stefanie,
I keep track with my photos of them which I upload on my laptop. I don’t store them online through Flickr, don’t do FB or any other photo sites, so it’s a huge collection right in my computer. Not a good idea I know. But I do back up on an external drive.
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Ive got a dress coloured like this bird the designer must have got their inspiration from it.
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