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