FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Hummingbirds, update

[Phoebetria@xxxxxxx]

What a frustrating few days!  Two days ago, two hummingbirds appeared with 
the onset of bad weather here at the house (as described in the posting two 
days ago).  One bird, clearly a Rufous/Allen's, took up residence all day 
Tuesday and yesterday, and was present this morning until about 0930, when 
warmer temperatures and eventually sunny skies prevailed and the bird went 
AWOL.  I last saw the bird midmorning, apparently catching insects in 
mid-air, and flying all around the neighbors' house next door, sometimes 
quite high.  What a contrast to yesterday, when this bird sat in the Buddleia 
for hours at a time, preening and throwing off the cold rain (it rained all 
day), visiting the feeders every so often.  This bird is banded on the right 
leg, it turns out, but it was difficult to see the little band until the bird 
did its over-the-wing scratch of the head.    

The smaller and paler, as-yet-unidentified hummingbird returned twice 
yesterday morning, only to be driven off by the Selasphorus.  I saw it only i
n flight then.  It apparently never found the feeder I placed for it on the 
front of the house; or it may be that the Selasphorus defended both.  I may 
have seen the smaller bird early this morning, but I have not seen it since 
then.  

If the dominant bird sticks around, as hoped, or if the other bird appears, 
I'll post the news here.  This is certainly one of the most difficult, 
annoying, and time-consuming sorts of birding -- but just watching the 
behavior of these hummers has been very engaging, even if I can't identify a 
single one of them!!

Ned Brinkley,
Cape Charles, VA
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