This Scarlet Tanager was heard singing in the woods adjacent to our home. Before moving from Pennsylvania to our current home in Central Massachusetts, I needed to drive to a large wooded park and hike into the woods before I would see or hear one of these birds. Now, our home borders the Leadmine Wildlife Managment Area, (a 640-acre wildlife conservation area located in Holland and Sturbridge, Massachusetts).
Photographing this bird is particularly challenging. Normally, they are high up near the tops of trees. When they do come down to lower branches, they are invariably in the shadows. On those rare occasions you can see and photograph them while well lit, their plumage is so brilliantly reflective that they are easy to over-expose. While not ideal, this image constitutes one of my better efforts.
Thanks for including the story behind the pic of the Scarlet Tanager. Interesting to read while viewing the great pic you got.