Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra
No other North American bird is as completely red as the Summer Tanager. Even its relative, the Northern Cardinal, has a black mask to contrast with its red cloak.
We find these tanagers across the southern United States from California to Florida, and in the eastern United States, northwest to Iowa and northeast to Delaware. Western populations inhabit riparian woodlands and, at higher elevations, mesquite woodlands. During winter, these birds travel as far south as the middle latitudes of South America.
Until visiting south Texas in the spring of 2020, my meetings with this species were only in Arizona, but on my way back to San Diego I stopped to visit a friend in Albuquerque and we found them at a nearby bosque (riparian woodland).
Modern science calls out three subspecies of Summer Tanager. P. r. rubra breeds in eastern USA. P. r. cooperi breeds in the desert southwest of the USA and northern Mexico. P. r. ochracea breeds only in northwestern Arizona.
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Upper Gila River Valley near Cliff, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:26 15:31 |
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Location:
Catwalk |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: JCD_0958SummerTanager |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Charlston Bridge on the San Pedro River, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:28 15:53 |
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Location:
Charleston Bridge |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD_1170SummerTanager |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: The Cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 7:10 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X0506 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Florida Canyon on the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains, east of Green Valley Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:30 9:03 |
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Location:
Florida Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: SummerTanager-Male_D5X8955 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Florida Canyon on the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains, east of Green Valley Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:30 9:00 |
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Location:
Florida Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: SummerTanager-Male_D5X8934 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Florida Canyon on the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains, east of Green Valley Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:30 9:00 |
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Location:
Florida Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SummerTanager-Male_D5X8921 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Florida Canyon on the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains, east of Green Valley Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:30 8:59 |
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Location:
Florida Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SummerTanager-Male_D5X8906 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Florida Canyon on the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains, east of Green Valley Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:30 8:58 |
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Location:
Florida Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: SummerTanager-Male_D5X8905 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Florida Canyon on the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains, east of Green Valley Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:30 10:04 |
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Location:
Florida Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: SummerTanager-Female_D5X8977 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: The Cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 7:10 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X0508 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Florida Canyon on the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains, east of Green Valley Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:30 9:03 |
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Location:
Florida Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: SummerTanager-Male_D5X8955 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Up-close and personal in Florida Canyon on the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains, east of Green Valley Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:30 9:20 |
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Location:
Florida Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: SummerTanager-Male_D5X8968 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: I found these birds at a well stocked feeder in camp where I stayed in Brownsville Texas. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:17 16:31 |
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Location:
Breeze Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D503534-Breeze-Lake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: I found these birds at a well stocked feeder in camp where I stayed in Brownsville Texas. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:17 16:31 |
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Location:
Breeze Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D503547-Breeze-Lake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: The blotchy coloration on this bird indicated it is an immature male, or first spring bird. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 17:13 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D505362-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: The blotchy coloration on this bird indicated it is an immature male, or first spring bird. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 17:17 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D505382-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: The blotchy coloration on this bird indicated it is an immature male, or first spring bird. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 17:18 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D505423-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: The blotchy coloration on this bird indicated it is an immature male, or first spring bird. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 17:18 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D505454-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: The blotchy coloration on this bird indicated it is an immature male, or first spring bird. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 17:18 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D505469-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: The blotchy coloration on this bird indicated it is an immature male, or first spring bird. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 17:21 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D505508-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: I met this male Summer Tanager where I spent the early morning at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior, Arizona. The day was sunny and the birds were friendly. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:26 10:14 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X5505-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: I met this male Summer Tanager where I spent the early morning at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior, Arizona. The day was sunny and the birds were friendly. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:26 10:15 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X5516-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: I met this male Summer Tanager where I spent the early morning at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior, Arizona. The day was sunny and the birds were friendly. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:26 10:19 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X5563-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: I met this male Summer Tanager where I spent the early morning at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior, Arizona. The day was sunny and the birds were friendly. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:26 10:22 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X5641-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: First year male Summer Tanagers have blotchy orange-red coloring placed erratically on their mom’s feather patterns. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:18 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D500892-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: First year male Summer Tanagers have blotchy orange-red coloring placed erratically on their mom’s feather patterns. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:28 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D500975-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: I must have missed the bright red male Summer Tanagers when they migrated through south Texas. Most of my encounters were with females, like this bird, or first year males. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 9:49 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D502048-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: Jerry and I enjoyed our Friday visit to the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico so much, we returned on Monday to the bosque, as locals call it. We met male Summer Tanagers as we explored our way along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:18 11:02 |
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Location:
Tingley Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D508774-TingleyBeach-ABQ |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: On Friday, my friend Jerry and I visited the riparian grove next to the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico is called a bosque. This First Year Summer Tanager was among the birds we met along the hiking and biking trails that weave through the Cottonwood and Mulberry trees. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:15 11:12 |
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Location:
Tingley Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: SummerTanager-1stYearMale_D507458-TingleyBeach-ABQ |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: I must have missed the bright red male Summer Tanagers when they migrated through south Texas. Most of my encounters were with females, like this bird, or first year males. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 9:49 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D502056-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: First year male Summer Tanagers have blotchy orange-red coloring placed erratically on their mom’s feather patterns. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 15:28 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D500975-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: I met this male Summer Tanager where I spent the early morning at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior, Arizona. The day was sunny and the birds were friendly. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:26 10:18 |
|
Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X5531-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: Most of the morning this male tanager secluded itself from view, but it finally slipped up and I caught him. Last year the global pandemic prevented me from experiencing the full effects of spring migration in south Texas. This year the gates are open and I’m venturing to South Padre Island about every second day. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:06 10:23 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X1523-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: Most of the morning this male tanager secluded itself from view, but it finally slipped up and I caught him. Last year the global pandemic prevented me from experiencing the full effects of spring migration in south Texas. This year the gates are open and I’m venturing to South Padre Island about every second day. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:06 10:23 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X1507-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: This female tanager was the only bird I captured during my early (and brief) visit to the Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary. I had an exceptional day at the SPI Convention Centre. I met three new bird species: Veery, Dickcissel, and Black-Billed Cuckoo. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:15 9:19 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: SummerTanager_Female_D5X5267-SPI_SheepsheadPreserve |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: This female tanager was the only bird I captured during my early (and brief) visit to the Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary. I had an exceptional day at the SPI Convention Centre. I met three new bird species: Veery, Dickcissel, and Black-Billed Cuckoo. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:15 9:19 |
|
Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: SummerTanager_Female_D5X5264-SPI_SheepsheadPreserve |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: Tanagers started trickling in last week, but today there were so many more on site. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 16:59 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/90 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X7781-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: Tanagers started trickling in last week, but today there were so many more on site. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 15:27 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/180 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X7555-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: Tanagers started trickling in last week, but today there were so many more on site. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 16:47 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/90 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X7695-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: This 1st year male bird was quite assertive and stood his ground at the food offered and even ran off mature males. Tanagers started trickling in last week, but today there were so many more on site. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 15:13 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X7512-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: This 1st year male bird was quite assertive and stood his ground at the food offered and even ran off mature males. Tanagers started trickling in last week, but today there were so many more on site. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 15:11 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X7496-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: Tanagers started trickling in last week, but today there were so many more on site. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 13:10 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/180 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X6841-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: Tanagers started trickling in last week, but today there were so many more on site. This weekend provided the “perfect storm” for a warbler fallout on South Padre Island; a cold north wind, rain, and a ton of birds trying to head north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:17 12:59 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/180 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X6732-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: Most of the morning this male tanager secluded itself from view, but it finally slipped up and I caught him. Last year the global pandemic prevented me from experiencing the full effects of spring migration in south Texas. This year the gates are open and I’m venturing to South Padre Island about every second day. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:06 10:23 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X1528-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
|
Description: Summer Tanagers have been passing through the island for several weeks now. It was a bright Sunday on South Padre Island, and I stayed over 9 hours. I started the morning with an hour at Sheepshead Sanctuary and drove to the Convention Centre for the rest of the day, and met a couple of birds new to me. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:02 16:12 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/90 |
File Name: SummerTanager_D5X5237_SPI-ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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