Hello all,
I went out at 12:15 to look for the Rufous--yes, "the" Rufous--as far as we
know, there is still only one at this time, and wherever she came from, or
when, we're glad to have a hummingbird to watch in this frigid weather!
About 12:25, a Smithsonian employee stopped by to ask if I'd seen her (I'm
pretty sure it was the "orchid guy" who gave a lecture at Green Spring this
past Sunday--he looked familiar!). Right as I said I hadn't seen her, he
said, "Look; there she is!" Honest, she hadn't been there a second
ago...<g> She got a drink and then flew towards the tall, skinny evergreen
(cedar?) that's to the right of the feeder; I couldn't see if she actually
flew into it, or kept going. I couldn't see her for 5 minutes; then she
reappeared and perched on top of the rose bush. I snuck around to get a
better view of her throat to ensure it was the same Rufous from 5 minutes
previously (it was). She has a more extensive pattern of metallic feathers
on her gorget, although it's difficult to see until she turns her head at
the correct angle. At 12:35, she flew over to get another drink, and I
couldn't see where she went from there. I decided to leave at this point
because, well, I'm a wimp--it's COLD!! I saw one white-throated sparrow as
I left the gardens.
Laura Farron
P.S. I did not see or hear any kittens, frozen or otherwise.
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