Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2003 11:13:09 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Frank Powers Subject: Re: Black-chinned Hummer (& friend?), S.I. - comment MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Guess the "subject" I used made the posting unclear. The bird I got the good views of was most likely not a Black-chinned Hummingbird, but probably a Rufous or Allen's Hummingbird. The extensive amount of buff on the flanks and under/over the tail would suggest that, among other characteristics. Sometimes haste in posting makes one less careful of the right choice of words. Sorry. Like most around here, the only hummer I've had much experience with is the Ruby-throat. And that, it seemed most likely, was not the species I saw yesterday morning at the SI. The 'blurred' bird I saw on first arrival probably should never have been mentioned. If it was a Black-chinned, I sure couldn't tell. The "subject" line should have been more neutral, as in, "The Ripley's Gardens Hummingbird." Hopefully, someone with a better knowledge of these little characters will get a good look and post their findings. Good birding, Frank Powers Glen Echo, MD Montgomery Co. frankpowers@comcast.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Catherine Carroll" To: Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2003 9:19 PM Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Black-chinned Hummer (& friend?), S.I. - comment > I was there this morning around 11:00am (w/ 2 non-birding friends) - > just as > two were leaving - I don't know if it was you. This said, I, too, had very > good looks at only one little bird, perched, feeding, and preening. I guess > I am going to go out on a limb here and ask how this bird was > identified as > a Black-chinned Hummer? > > Thanks, > Cathy Carroll > Baltimore, MD > clcarroll@voyager.net > > The hummer was present this morning at the Ripley Gardens between > > the Hirschorn and Arts & Industries museums. > > > > Ron Staley of Herndon had been observing since about 7:30am, and had > > two hummers perched near each other (and may have gotten video) in > > the shrubs by > > the A&I building. They both "appeared to be the same," he said. > > When I arrived at 8:50am, it was just in time to see one chase > > another off (but at > > that speed, all I could distinguish were the sounds of Hummer > > "conflict" and > > two blurs). > > > > One, which seemed to be an immature male, remained in the area for > > the next 40 > > minutes, alternating between many minutes of perching, to many > > minutes of > > feeding actively on the various flowers. When perched, it offered excellent > > views in the bright sunlight, frequently preening & scratching, with > > the opportunity to see its features and colors from many angles. > > > > At one point, the sun glinted off a single metallic-like spot on its throat. > > This bird's throat had a pattern of "dots" on it. Its sides were > > buff, with > > the same color above and below its tail. It had a "broken" > > eye-ring, with > > white behind its eyes. Beak was long, decurved and seemed rather thicker than > > a Ruby-throat. It's crown had a grayish color to it. Behind its > > beak and > > before the eyes (forgive me, but I forget what that areas is > > called), it appeared to have a spot of buff color. Its back was > > mainly greenish, interspersed with that same golden-buffy color. > > > > Its call sounded different from a Ruby-throat. And, it flicked its > > tail frequently at one time when perched (many other times it sat > > quietly, moving > > only its head rapidly as it surveyed its territory). It seems to > > have some > > "weight" to it, appearing rather round, not unlike a Hummer's weight-gain as > > it prepares for migration. > > > > It did not feed from the Hummer feeder while we were there, 'tho it spent a > > good portion of its time in that tree. > > > > In the same area was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. > > > > Parking at that hour was not a problem. Could have been the very > > windy and > > chilly conditions. During the entire time (both Ron's and mine) no > > other birders came by. If you get the chance, it's quite a treat! > > > > Frank Powers > > Glen Echo, MD > > Montgomery County > > frankpowers@comcast.net > > > > ==================================================================== > > === > > To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com > > with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey > > ======================================================================= > > > > > > ====================================================================== > = > To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com > with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey > ======================================================================= ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================