[va-bird] Re: TWO D.C. Hummers!

Thankyou, Frank ,for providing the knowlege and experience which I was
seeking.  I was busy fiddling with the video and digital camera and was not
concentrating on description of the bird.  I did get video of the bird that
remained after the first one left but was not able to get the two birds
together. Upon the review of references I would agree with your thoughts of
the second bird being an immature male.  There was another birder who
arrived after Frank left.  He was from Alexandria but I cannot recall his
name.

Ron Staley
----- Original Message -----
From: "Laura Farron" <70334.1535@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2003 11:04 AM
Subject: [va-bird] TWO D.C. Hummers!


> Hello birders,
> For those not on the Maryland listserve, a very interesting hummer post
from Saturday morning.  Lori, you were right!  I did not see a second hummer
while I was there, but now it's been confirmed.  How exciting!  (And how
nice that there are cold-hardy birders who went out this morning so I don't
have to.)<g>
>
>
Laura Farron
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
> MDOSPREY
>
> Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 10:13:53 -0500
>
> Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> From: Frank Powers <frankpowers@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Subject: Black-chinned Hummer (& friend?), S.I.
>
> The hummer was present this morning at the Ripley Gardens between the
Hirschorn and Arts & Industries museums. Ron Staley of Herndon had been
observing since about 7:30am, and had two hummers perched near each other
(and may have gotten video) in the shrubs by the A&I building. They both
"appeared to be the same," he said. When I arrived at 8:50am, it was just in
time to see one chase another off (but at that speed, all I could
distinguish were the sounds of Hummer "conflict" and two blurs). One, which
seemed to be an immature male, remained in the area for the next 40 minutes,
alternating between many minutes of perching, to many minutes of feeding
actively on the various flowers. When perched, it offered excellent views in
the bright sunlight, frequently preening & scratching, with the opportunity
to see its features and colors from many angles. At one point, the sun
glinted off a single metallic-like spot on its throat. This bird's throat
had a pattern of "dots" on it. Its
>   sides were buff, with the same color above and below its tail. It had a
"broken" eye-ring, with white behind its eyes. Beak was long, decurved and
seemed rather thicker than a Ruby-throat. It's crown had a grayish color to
it. Behind its beak and before the eyes (forgive me, but I forget what that
areas is called), it appeared to have a spot of buff color. Its back was
mainly greenish, interspersed with that same golden-buffy color. Its call
sounded different from a Ruby-throat. And, it flicked its tail frequently at
one time when perched (many other times it sat quietly, moving only its head
rapidly as it surveyed its territory). It seems to have some "weight" to it,
appearing rather round, not unlike a Hummer's weight-gain as it prepares for
migration. It did not feed from the Hummer feeder while we were there, 'tho
it spent a good portion of its time in that tree. In the same area was a
Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Parking at that hour was not a problem. Could have
been the ver
>  y windy and chilly conditions. During the entire time (both Ron's and
mine) no other birders came by. If you get the chance, it's quite a treat!
Frank Powers Glen Echo, MD Montgomery County frankpowers@xxxxxxxxxxx
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