Like Diann Stone said, everyday is different. Again, thanks to Susan Patla for giving me notice to watch out for this yr’s crop of Rufous. Because, yesterday evening another change occurred at the nectar feeder & continues this AM. As many as 5 at a time of immature Rufous Hummingbirds are hitting the feeder & each other!

Of the 4 hummer species which we get, the Rufous Hummers are definitely the most territorial & aggressive. I’ve watched epic battles, can hear their body slams into each other & observed their chattering face-offs, bill to bill, all within 10 ft of me! Quite entertaining, although to them, purely necessary for survival on their southern trek to meet their energy needs.

So, now, only juvenile Rufous are at the nectar feeder. Mainly juvenile Black-headed Grosbeaks at the seeds. Red-breasted Nuthatches are calling &, again a couple of weeks early, juvenile Chipping Sparrows are in the grassy pastures. Fewer Lazuli Buntings are around. Fall migrants are on the move.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Today, Jean Seymour, Kathleen Cameron and I traveled to the City of Rocks area in search of the pinyon/juniper specialties of that area. The entrance road in Castle Rock State Park held BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER & BUSHTIT in the pinyon/juniper area. On the road up to Circle Creek Overlook, we had our best passerine turnout including 1 each ASH-THROATED, DUSKY, & OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, and 1 BLACK-THROATED GRAY & 2 VIRGINIA’S WARBLERS. We found a few WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS in the sky deep in the national preserve, over some of the more pronounced rock formations. The trailhead just outside the Smoky Mountain Campground had a flock of 15+ BUSHTIT & 1 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. Backroads in the large valley between the City of Rocks area and the Jim Sage Mts held 8+ LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES & unprecedented numbers of BREWER’S SPARROWS. The well(ish)-kept dirt road that leads up into the Jim Sage Mountains had 1 LINCOLN’S SPARROW, 2 of each GRAY FLYCATCHERS, W. SCRUB JAYS, and most impressively, 2 juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWKS.
full trip report will be posted here: worldbirding.travellerspoint.com
Good birding,
Henry
Ketchum ID
(Chicago IL)
Henry Griffin
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