FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Selasphorus Hummingbirds in Rockingham County

["Charles Brodwater" <brodh2o@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear birders,  Charlie and I visited all three home sites, Massanetta Springs, 
Grottoes, and Montezuma, Va.   John Irvine posted directions to the homes, with 
owners permission, and detailed descriptions of each of the three birds.   
These details helped greatly, as only one out of the three sightings were in 
sunlight shining on the bird.

We made the rounds arriving at home #1 by 11:45 a.m.  Within several minutes, 
observing from the driveway in our car,  the hummer appeared at the front 
feeder.   We saw it an additional two times, aaa within 45 minutes.  Owners 
were working, but John had stated they would permit birders to observe, and 
neighbors were allerted.  Family name, Rinaca and Weber.  Wonderful cover, 
plantings, running waterfall, and all kinds of birdy feeders about the place.   
All the plants (perennials) had name-tags.  I would have loved to have toured 
the place for the garden plantings alone, but did not want to spook the hummer. 
 Although there were 3 hummer feeders on the property, we only observed the one 
out front, from the car.

Home # 2, we called ahead as requested, and were invited into the home of the 
Flora family.   They insisted we bird from inside the kitchen.   Their bird 
appeared within minutes - John described this bird as more pale, and more 
rufous in color, and it was.  Before this bird approched the feeder, it perched 
nearby on the very top of a dogwood tree, also in the sun and at the human 
observers eye level.  We never did see any green on the bird, but saw mostly 
front views - very white neck/breast in the sunshine.  However, we both saw a 
flash on the gorget of orange - just a little spot at the lowest part.   We saw 
the bird three times within 45 minutes also.   Suburban homesite, with much 
cover and resources/water for birds.  All observations by us the bird was in 
sunshine.

Home site #3 - a farm environment - a Mennonite family, who have relatives 
nearby.  Between the two families, John Irvine stated that they have had some 
very interesting birds over the years.   The family name is Rhodes.   We called 
first as requested, and were invited into their kitchen.  It was 3:50 p.m. by 
then with much of their backyard area in shade.   But their hummer made it's 
appearance by 4:05p.m.   This bird has been present on/and/off at this home 
since October 10.   I thought of the three birds we saw, this was the most 
beautiful, having plenty of green and rufous colorings.  Mrs. Rhodes encouraged 
us to get closer to the window to see it really up close.  She said it would 
not get spooked (my word) and it did not.   So Charlie and I peeked at it about 
4 or 5' in distance.   The gorget area was very dark with many vertical rows of 
spots.   We saw it again at 4:20 p.m.   We both thought that this bird was 
larger in size than the other two.   Maybe just well nourished since it has 
been there 4+ weeks.  Would have loved to have seen the throat area in sunlight.

I want to mention that our son, Glenn, who lives in Toms River, N.J. has a 
Selasphorus hummer at their home since Nov. 3.   Karen first noticed it taking 
nectar from some frost-damaged Red Salvia in pots near their back kitchen door 
entrance (area is all glass, including doors, so you can observe outside easily 
from kitchen).  It is still there - they have been in touch with Cape May, 
Cattus Island naturalists, Bob Sargent, etc.  Already they are referring to 
this bird as "their little bird"!   The bird has been confirmed as a 
Selasphorus hummer by three birders allerted by Cape May staff.  The two 
nearest banders are Mary Gustafson in Maryland, and Scott Weisensaul, Pa.  
Karen is off from teaching this week, so has been kept busy inviting birders 
into their home.  One of the early experts took a digital camera picture, 
pressed  up to a scope (actually 2) to Bob Sargent via E-mail, and Bob thinks 
they've got an immature male Rufous.  He will coordinate getting the bird 
banded.

Ned Brinkley sent a post to VA-BIRD that there is another S. hummer in Yonkers, 
N. Y.

So, get one of your nectar feeders back out on your porch/deck area - there may 
be more of them north of us than we imagine.  It was a day Charlie and I won't 
forget any too soon.

Jean Brodwater, Stuarts Draft.



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