A Selasphorus hummer has been frequenting feeders at a home just north of
Grottoes, in the southeastern corner of Rockingham County, for at least a
week. I saw the bird today and it is an immature or female. It has a
reddish wash on the flanks, whitish breast and belly and undertail coverts, a
green upper back and a good bit of orangish on the rump, and a small pointed
tail extending past the wing tips. The throat area is lightly marked and did
not present a noticeable central spot. I saw it twice today, once at quite
short range at the feeder near the back window at 12:30 p.m. and again 20
minutes later for a briefer time at the feeder near the front door as I was
getting in my car to leave. They saw the bird on five other occasions today.
Phyllis Rinaca (accent her last name on the first syllable) and Lucille Weber
live on Randall Road just north of the town of Grottoes. Their phone number
at home is (540) 249-4129 but they both work and are gone from home much of
the day Monday through Friday. Phyllis works at Valley Pool & Spa in
Harrisonburg and can be reached at her work phone, (540) 433-2762. They
welcome birders to stop by and look for the bird even if they are not at
home.
If you are traveling south on US 340 from Elkton toward Grottoes, start
measuring when you pass the crossroads with Port Republic Road from
Harrisonburg (Va. Rt. 659); or you can take the Port Republic Road exit from
I-81 in Harrisonburg (exit 245) heading away from downtown and James Madison
University until you reach US 340, and then turn right. From that point
travel 0.8 miles and turn right on the north end of Randall Road (which is
mostly a gravel road and roughly parallels US 340 on the west side, emerging
back onto 340 inside the town of Grottoes). Go 0.2 miles and you will see
the third house on the right, light tan in color, with a hummingbird feeder
near the right side of the front porch. There is a parking area which can
accommodate several cars immediately adjacent to the road. The (vertical)
number on the mailbox post is 14866 and there is a picture of a male
ruby-throated hummingbird on the mailbox. The house is located just before
the road takes a bend to the left.
If you are coming from the south from Waynesboro (or if you have come up I-81
to the Weyers Cave exit [#235] and taken VA Rt. 256 east to Grottoes) go
north on US 340 until you come to the blinker light at the commercial center
of Grottoes. Start measuring there. Continue north 0.4 miles, passing the
volunteer rescue squad building on your left, and turn left on Randall Road's
south end. That road will immediately turn right and at 0.1 mile runs out of
pavement; watch for the pothole where it does so. Proceed another 0.4 mile
and you will come to a bend to the right; just past the bend is Phyllis and
Lucille's house on the left.
These folks have as birdy a back yard as I have ever been in. They have
built a lovely little descending recirculating stream, there are sunflower
seed feeders and thistle socks in abundance, and in the time I was there, so
many birds of over half a dozen species were zinging around the pine and
deciduous trees in the back yard, it was very difficult keeping my attention
concentrated on the hummingbird feeders. In addition to the one near the
kitchen window, there is a third hummer feeder at the far back of the back
yard. There are also seed feeders on the more open southwest side of the
house. The neighbor's dog barked at me as I walked around the house but once
I was quiet in the back yard paid me no more attention. They will tell their
neighbors to expect birders to visit.
Perhaps someone can come and band this individual and satisfy our curiosity a
s to whether it is a Rufous or an Allen's. If you plan to do so I would
appreciate your letting me know in advance at (540) 432-2335 or at
JMIrvine@xxxxxxx.
John Irvine
Harrisonburg, VA
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