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

I dragged along my (loving) non-birding, out-of-state, visiting sister along 
with me to the Ripley Garden this afternoon from 3:15pm-3:45pm.  I promised 
her I'd keep it to a half hour visit.  :)

Upon arriving I was saddened that the hummer(s) weren't waiting for us, 
however, my non-birding sister was quickly rewarded with her patience with me 
by sighting the first (and our only) hummer!  The bird proceeded to feed at 
both the salvia and the feeder, on and off again for 20 minutes until we 
left.  We got great looks at it, though, without any book to guide me and 
almost no knowledge of non-ruby-throated birds, I have no idea which one I 
saw.  But, I'm guessing from the rufous sides, it was not the black chinned.  
Here are the couple of photos I snapped.

http://talking-dog.com/grebe/downloads/birds/112903_dcHummer.jpg

I hope to head down again tomorrow morning (with scope/camera in hand) around 
7:45am or so.  It really was amazing to see in person.  The rofous sides were 
very noteable, as was a faint black ring under its chin and a single black dot 
above the black ring.  It didn't vocalize at all while we were there.

Good luck to those of you trying to see it!
-Renee Grebe
 Alexandria, VA


Quoting Ron Staley <rmstaley@xxxxxxxxx>:
> 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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