[va-richmond-general] black-chinned hummingbird

The following interesting tidbit came from an e-newsletter circulated among 
Maryland's birdwatching community.  Apparently a black-chinned hummingbird was 
recently sighted at the Smithsonian in D.C.  If you know birders in northern 
Virginia, ask them to keep an eye out!
------------------------------
 
Date:    Sat, 22 Nov 2003 19:22:57 EST
Subject: Black-chinned Hummer at Smithsonian
 
I visited the Ripley Garden, next to the Arts and Industries bldg, on
Saturday morning, and was able to get just a few photos of the hummer.
See the photos
at:
 

http://odolep.com/Smithsonian%20Hummingbird/index.htm 
 
Bob Sargent of the Hummer/Bird Study Group Inc., identified the photos as
a
female Black-chinned, probably an adult. He cited the width of the inner
web of
p10, and the brownish tone to the crown, with a few green feathers thrown
in.
 
I never had time to videotape the bird. It would be nice to get some
video
footage. It usually, but not always, pumped its tail as it fed.
 
On Saturday morning I arrived at 8:30. At 10 the bird appeared and fed
for
three minutes along the west wall, behind the red maple in the tiny
island. It
fed on the largest clump of purple salvia. When it left it towered high
into
the air, and headed northeast across the MALL towards Natural History. I
assume
it has a very lengthy route of flowers that it works. I bet it made a
visit to
the Ripley Garden before I got there. It would also be a logical place for
it
to roost.
 
This reminds me of the first Selasphorus Hummer in DC about 20 years ago.
Also not at a feeder. It was discovered at a tiny hedge of flowers next
to the
Red Cross HQ. We had to wait about 10 hours over 2 days to see it. It fed
for
two minutes, then flew straight up the center of a busy street and
vanished. The
flower stops must be some distance apart. This particular hedge type has
tiny
white flowers late into the year. I don't know the name of it, but it is
common around downtown DC.
 
Dave Czaplak
 
Carol A. Heiser
Habitat Ed. Coordinator
Va. Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries
4010 W. Broad St.
Richmond, VA  23230
phone (804) 367-6989
fax (804) 367-2311
cheiser@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 


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