Hi all,
The note about the western VA Selasphorus and a note from Paul Lehman
concerning a Calliope Hummingbird in Cape May, New Jersey today reminded me to
keep
out my hummer feeders and to urge folks on this listserv to do the same. So
far, Virginia has only one (unreviewed) report of this tiny species, but we
should expect more, especially in October through December, when western birds,
including hummers, are most likely to turn up. The state has
photographic/confirmed records of Allen's, Rufous, Black-chinned, and of course
Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds, with a recent record (Oct 2003) of an adult male Magnificent
Hummingbird photographed at a feeder in Radford, Virginia. Surrounding states
have records of Green-breasted Mango, Green Violet-ear (probably also in VA at
Buckingham Co.), Broad-billed, Anna's, and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds; and
South Carolina has had Blue-throated Hummingbird. All of these vagrants were
recorded at feeders.
Two days ago, Dora Sullivan and I watched a female Archilochus (probably
Ruby-throated) foraging on large Salvia bushes in front of her office supply
store
on Mason Avenue in Cape Charles. She was able to walk right up to the bird
with a digital camera and get good images! It appears the bird was indeed a
Ruby-throated. Keep watching flowers and feeders,
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
(P.S. Paul Lehman's note is below)
NJBIRDS:
A Calliope Hummingbird (probably an imm male) is frequenting the yard of
Jim Dowdell and family, today (Mopnday), in Villas, Cape May County.
Villas is on the bayshore just a little north of Cape May. They live at
405 Beechwood. From Bayshore Road (the main road through Villas) turn
west at a light on to Village Dr./Rd. (the town library/municipal
building are on the east side of the road at that light). Then turn left
(very soon) onto Beechwood, which then curves around to the right and
heads west, paralleling Village. The Dowdell house is well down the
street on the right (north) side, and it can be easily identified by
being the one with all the hummingbird and butterfly plants filling the
yard! The bird so far has only been seen coming to the large patch of
pineapple sage on the left side of the house and has yet to use any of
the feeders; but that, of course, could change. To see all the plants
and feeders in both the side yard and front yard, one should stand in
the driveway, just inside the gate. Do NOT otherwise walk around in the
yard.
Also, THE DOWDELLS HAVE REQUESTED THAT PEOPLE INTERESTED IN SEEING THIS
BIRD DO SO TODAY, TUESDAY, OR WEDNESDAY. AFTER THAT YOU WILL NEED
PERMISSION FROM THEM BEFOEHAND AS THEY NEED TO BE HOME AND THEY ALSO DO
NOT WISH TO ANNOY THE NEIGHBORS. We will post an update on the bird's
status this evening and on Tuesday so folks can decide whether or not to
come at all.
In other news, a light-morph immature Swainson's Hawk flew over the Cape
May hawkwatch this morning and continued straight toward Delaware.... A
Lark Sparrow flew by the Higbee dike.
The White Pelican and Hudsonian and Marbled Godwits have been reported
at Brigantine NWR, and Marbled Godwits continue at Stone Harbor Point.
Paul Lehman
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