Thanks, Brian. I hope to put out a feeder soon. My back went out yesterday, though, and I can barely make it outside to do a stationary checklist, much less put up a feeder. Argh. Hate to think of all the Hummers I’m missing pass through.

Wendy McCrady
Challis, ID

Don’t dream it, be it.
On Jul 5, 2017 9:06 AM, “lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]” wrote:
>
>  
>
> Quite familiar with Spar Canyon & area. If you do fill your Hummer feeder, Wendy, I think within a few days, you’d definitely have Rufous & probably Broad-tailed & Black-chinned, as well. Might be fun with lots of action. If you do so & get some sightings, please report back.
>
> Brian Carrigan
> Blackfoot
>
>

You’re welcome, Brian. =) Our experience with BTLH (Broad-tailed) at our place in Colorado (4600 ft elevation, urban/rural area just below sage-juniper habitat) was that they were unpredictable as to whether a male or two would hit our feeders all summer long, or whether we’d only see them as migrants in spring and fall. IOW, every year was a surprise, but appeared dependent on abundance and timing of native wildflower blooms. BCHU (Black-chinned) were breeders in our hood, whereas CAHU (Calliope) and RUHU (Rufous) were fall migrants, although occasionally a CAHU or two might pass thru in spring, we wouldn’t gamble on that. I searched extreme NW Colorado for potential breeding evidence of CAHU (suspected by local long-time birders), but I wasn’t successful in that effort. Larry

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2017 7:30 PM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Thanks, Larry!

Thanks, Larry. Now, my question is what’s happened to my Broad-tailed Hummingbirds? I used to almost be able to set my calendar by when they would show in June. Last couple of years, I’ve had maybe 1 or 2 & this year, non-existent. Not knocking the Black-chinneds or Rufous, but where are the Broad-taileds?

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

_____

Posted by: lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com

_____

Thanks, Larry. Now, my question is what’s happened to my Broad-tailed Hummingbirds? I used to almost be able to set my calendar by when they would show in June. Last couple of years, I’ve had maybe 1 or 2 & this year, non-existent. Not knocking the Black-chinneds or Rufous, but where are the Broad-taileds?

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Yikes, 10-day forecast for Florence OR??? Eyiyi!

I do hereby admit that I cannot multi-task, nada gonna happen…..

Thx for the catch, Bill =)

W Colorado link for eBird bar chart for Rufous was meant to be this one: http://ebird.org/ebird/barchart?byr=1900 &eyr=2017&bmo=1&emo=12&r=US-CO-029,US-CO-045,US-CO-077,US-CO-085

And of course Rufous is about mid-way down thru the phylo

LA

From: Larry Arnold [mailto:larnold47@cableone.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2017 4:42 PM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [IBLE] Rufous migration and breeding

Brian and other Hummer Fans…

SW California eBird bar chart illustrates Rufous’ northbound and southbound migration windows, kinda sorta http://ebird.org/ebird/barchart?byr=1900 &eyr=2017&bmo=1&emo=12&r=US-CA-037,US-CA-073,US-CA-079,US-CA-083,US-CA-111

W Colorado eBird bar chart illustrates Rufous as a southbound / “fall migrant” https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USOR0123:1:US

Extreme SE Idaho is similar in this regard (Rufous is a “fall migrant”) http://ebird.org/ebird/barchart?byr=1900 &eyr=2017&bmo=1&emo=12&r=US-ID-007,US-ID-029,US-ID-041

Sheri Williamson’s illustrations (Peterson Field Guides, Hummingbirds of N Am, 2001) on pg 224-5 give us a good look at Rufous’ northbound migration up the west coast / Pacific Flyway / during Jan-May, as far as north SE Alaska, thence more of an inland route southward during Jun-Nov

We used to think of Rufous as following an elliptical migration path, screaming up the west coast in late winter / early spring, down thru the Rockies in fall, but eBird data suggest that it’s not quite that simple, eh? =)

BNA species account (Healy and Calder, 2006) shows their annual cycle of migration, breeding, and molt (great graphic BTW), and breeding is pegged to mid-April thru mid-June, southbound migration is late June thru September. But note: my observations of Rufous in W Colorado (15 years’ worth) were from mid-June thru mid-October.

FWIW

Selasphorus rufus Rocks! =)

Larry, Boise

From: Larry Arnold [ mailto:larnold47@cableone.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2017 3:39 PM
To: ‘lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com’; ‘ible@yahoogroups.com’
Subject: RE: [IBLE] Hummers

For E Idaho, this should be “fall” (southbound) migration for Rufous… // I should qualify this: SE Idaho

Will post some bar charts from eBird to illustrate

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [ mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2017 3:30 PM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Hummers

Thanks for all the hummingbird reports. Since Bill is on my side of state, I was interested in reading his observations & that his hummers were late. I was in Post Falls in June & family up there had 3 feeders out with Calliopes visiting all day & no others. Best views I’ve ever had of males displaying their gorget feathers within 4 ft of me. At one point, I watched about a dozen Calliopes visiting feeders at the same time with quite a bit of male bravado going on by a bird weighing less than 2 pennies!

Unless someone else has, I’ve never seen Anna’s in SE ID. I should get more observations in the next few days & can see if the Rufous have headed off. Curious, so would the Rufous appearing now be migrating back south, having already nested, at this point? Or, are they arriving late & just headed to breeding grounds?

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Brian and other Hummer Fans…

SW California eBird bar chart illustrates Rufous’ northbound and southbound migration windows, kinda sorta http://ebird.org/ebird/barchart?byr=1900 &eyr=2017&bmo=1&emo=12&r=US-CA-037,US-CA-073,US-CA-079,US-CA-083,US-CA-111

W Colorado eBird bar chart illustrates Rufous as a southbound / “fall migrant” https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USOR0123:1:US

Extreme SE Idaho is similar in this regard (Rufous is a “fall migrant”) http://ebird.org/ebird/barchart?byr=1900 &eyr=2017&bmo=1&emo=12&r=US-ID-007,US-ID-029,US-ID-041

Sheri Williamson’s illustrations (Peterson Field Guides, Hummingbirds of N Am, 2001) on pg 224-5 give us a good look at Rufous’ northbound migration up the west coast / Pacific Flyway / during Jan-May, as far as north SE Alaska, thence more of an inland route southward during Jun-Nov

We used to think of Rufous as following an elliptical migration path, screaming up the west coast in late winter / early spring, down thru the Rockies in fall, but eBird data suggest that it’s not quite that simple, eh? =)

BNA species account (Healy and Calder, 2006) shows their annual cycle of migration, breeding, and molt (great graphic BTW), and breeding is pegged to mid-April thru mid-June, southbound migration is late June thru September. But note: my observations of Rufous in W Colorado (15 years’ worth) were from mid-June thru mid-October.

FWIW

Selasphorus rufus Rocks! =)

Larry, Boise

From: Larry Arnold [ mailto:larnold47@cableone.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2017 3:39 PM
To: ‘lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com’; ‘ible@yahoogroups.com’
Subject: RE: [IBLE] Hummers

For E Idaho, this should be “fall” (southbound) migration for Rufous… // I should qualify this: SE Idaho

Will post some bar charts from eBird to illustrate

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [ mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2017 3:30 PM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Hummers

Thanks for all the hummingbird reports. Since Bill is on my side of state, I was interested in reading his observations & that his hummers were late. I was in Post Falls in June & family up there had 3 feeders out with Calliopes visiting all day & no others. Best views I’ve ever had of males displaying their gorget feathers within 4 ft of me. At one point, I watched about a dozen Calliopes visiting feeders at the same time with quite a bit of male bravado going on by a bird weighing less than 2 pennies!

Unless someone else has, I’ve never seen Anna’s in SE ID. I should get more observations in the next few days & can see if the Rufous have headed off. Curious, so would the Rufous appearing now be migrating back south, having already nested, at this point? Or, are they arriving late & just headed to breeding grounds?

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

For E Idaho, this should be “fall” (southbound) migration for Rufous…

Will post some bar charts from eBird to illustrate

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2017 3:30 PM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Hummers

Thanks for all the hummingbird reports. Since Bill is on my side of state, I was interested in reading his observations & that his hummers were late. I was in Post Falls in June & family up there had 3 feeders out with Calliopes visiting all day & no others. Best views I’ve ever had of males displaying their gorget feathers within 4 ft of me. At one point, I watched about a dozen Calliopes visiting feeders at the same time with quite a bit of male bravado going on by a bird weighing less than 2 pennies!

Unless someone else has, I’ve never seen Anna’s in SE ID. I should get more observations in the next few days & can see if the Rufous have headed off. Curious, so would the Rufous appearing now be migrating back south, having already nested, at this point? Or, are they arriving late & just headed to breeding grounds?

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Thanks for all the hummingbird reports. Since Bill is on my side of state, I was interested in reading his observations & that his hummers were late. I was in Post Falls in June & family up there had 3 feeders out with Calliopes visiting all day & no others. Best views I’ve ever had of males displaying their gorget feathers within 4 ft of me. At one point, I watched about a dozen Calliopes visiting feeders at the same time with quite a bit of male bravado going on by a bird weighing less than 2 pennies!

Unless someone else has, I’ve never seen Anna’s in SE ID. I should get more observations in the next few days & can see if the Rufous have headed off. Curious, so would the Rufous appearing now be migrating back south, having already nested, at this point? Or, are they arriving late & just headed to breeding grounds?

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Here in west Boise, we still have just Black-chinned, 10 +/- and still mostly males, but Rufous and/or Calliope could show up any day now, and all three sp typically crescendo thru mid-August……

Anna’s don’t show up here until September, often first observed at our Wendy’s Wish (salvia from Flowers by the Sea, OR) =)

Larry

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ‘Nancy Miller’ nmiller@moscow.com [ible]
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2017 10:52 AM
To: lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com; ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [IBLE] Another Hummer Report

Brian, IBLE

We had Rufous, Calliope and Black-chinned males earlier, Calliope male stayed most of June. A rufous male came this week for a couple of days and a Black-chinned male is here currently (all the last week). He is courting one of the females and certainly doesn’t seem like he’s ready to migrate. Females were very scarce until about a week ago. Most seem to fly from here to the forest across the street rather than to the closer conifers on our property.

Thanks for the comments about Black-headed Grosbeaks. They and Cassin’s Finches are still coming to the feeders but not eating as much. They nest close but I’m not sure where. They are probably feeding young by now. I haven’t seen them hawking.

Nancy Miller

Viola ID

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Tuesday, July 4, 2017 10:10 AM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Another Hummer Report

An interesting one this AM. I’ve had a female Rufous Hummingbird coming into the feeder for about 5 days now. She came again this AM, followed by the female Black-chinned. Then, a male Rufous came in and has taken over the feeder for the past 1 1/2 hr. Living up to the male Rufous’ aggressive nature!

What’s interesting is, we have had Rufous migrate through in the spring & again late Aug/early Sept on their clockwise migration pattern. But, I don’t have a yard record for one in July. Let alone 2, & male & female at that. I looked up Rufous & it could be that they are already headed back south for their winter migration. In Latilong 21, Rufous is listed as transient. So, I suspect the 2 are migrating south & have just located a ready, man-made nectar source & are lingering. But interesting to observe.

Also, have been watching my Black-headed Grosbeaks switch from a fully sunflower seed diet to fewer seeds & more insects now. Even to the point of ticking off the resident Western Wood-Pewee, who was hot on the tail of a male Grosbeak earlier today. The Grosbeaks are even doing some fly-catching although with nowhere near the grace of the Pewees! I mainly see them stalking through the lawn, scaring & snapping up insects.

Otherwise, Happy 4th!
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Finally I had a good Rufous sighting of a male at the feeder. I thought I had a female late last week, but this guy was for sure. Interesting it’s about a week later than when I’ve seen them in past years. In fact all my hummer activity is running 1-2 weeks later than the past; they showed up 1.5 weeks late and feeder emptying numbers are 1.5 -2 weeks behind last year. I wonder if numbers are just down or they are late and will depart later than usual. All three local breeds are furious displaying and active. Yesterday two I think Calliope females were doing a running twirling mid-air beak fencing match at one of the feeders. My guess is first brood is about fledged (some stubby beaks at the feeders) and the second batch is on the way.

I saw somewhere that House Wrens were in decline. Not here. We have loads, quite a racket.

Finally we had a small kettle of Franklins Gulls go through last night near dusk. I have not seen Nighthawks yet or heard Poorwills ( but I haven’t tried real hard on Poorwills).

Bill Moore
Hoot Owl
Inkom

Brian, IBLE

We had Rufous, Calliope and Black-chinned males earlier, Calliope male stayed most of June. A rufous male came this week for a couple of days and a Black-chinned male is here currently (all the last week). He is courting one of the females and certainly doesn’t seem like he’s ready to migrate. Females were very scarce until about a week ago. Most seem to fly from here to the forest across the street rather than to the closer conifers on our property.

Thanks for the comments about Black-headed Grosbeaks. They and Cassin’s Finches are still coming to the feeders but not eating as much. They nest close but I’m not sure where. They are probably feeding young by now. I haven’t seen them hawking.

Nancy Miller

Viola ID

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Tuesday, July 4, 2017 10:10 AM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Another Hummer Report

An interesting one this AM. I’ve had a female Rufous Hummingbird coming into the feeder for about 5 days now. She came again this AM, followed by the female Black-chinned. Then, a male Rufous came in and has taken over the feeder for the past 1 1/2 hr. Living up to the male Rufous’ aggressive nature!

What’s interesting is, we have had Rufous migrate through in the spring & again late Aug/early Sept on their clockwise migration pattern. But, I don’t have a yard record for one in July. Let alone 2, & male & female at that. I looked up Rufous & it could be that they are already headed back south for their winter migration. In Latilong 21, Rufous is listed as transient. So, I suspect the 2 are migrating south & have just located a ready, man-made nectar source & are lingering. But interesting to observe.

Also, have been watching my Black-headed Grosbeaks switch from a fully sunflower seed diet to fewer seeds & more insects now. Even to the point of ticking off the resident Western Wood-Pewee, who was hot on the tail of a male Grosbeak earlier today. The Grosbeaks are even doing some fly-catching although with nowhere near the grace of the Pewees! I mainly see them stalking through the lawn, scaring & snapping up insects.

Otherwise, Happy 4th!
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot