About 6:30 this evening, a friend and i were returning to the parking lot at
Pennyfield Lock from a walk up to Blockhouse Point. As we approached the
Pennyfiled parking lot walking on the C&O canal tow path, I heard a Scarlet
tanager calling from the trees above the parking lot.  A minute of so later
I found the bird on some naked limbs at the top of a sycamore right over the
lot.  It was clearly a Scarlet tanager as it had solid  dark black wings and
I  saw it singing  in my binocs. The striking thing was that the bird was
NOT the deep scarlet red I expected.  Instead it was bright orange, like an
oriole, all over.  We got good extended looks at the front, back, and side
of the bird, all in the afternoon sun light. It was a stunning  bird, almost
like da-glow orange in the bright sun light.  I have seen orange-variant
tanagers before, but never one this bright.  I feel certain the bird is
nesting in the trees on the back side of the lot.  I have heard a tanager
call from that area several time lately. So,if you want to try to see the
bird, it might be possible.
-- 
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.