For the past couple of days I've had both a male & female rufous visiting one of my feeders. I really love having them here for the added "spice" they bring to my hummingbird scene with their personalities and color differences. These are the first I've spotted in my yard, altho the first rufous were reported in the area just over 2 months ago. April was mostly a "green season" in my gardens...I'm anxious for more flowers to start appearing (I just picked up some LIR salvias that are already blooming).

Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

That's wonderful to see the Rufous! They are so pretty, and different from the usual glittery green scheme. What do you normally get out there in Tacoma--Anna's? Do you get any of the other species, like Calliope, or Black-chinned, or do they stick to the mountains?

We only have the RT's in NJ I wish I would see a Rufous because I think I was on a web site one time and they spotted them in Cape May,NJ which is about 1 1/2hrs from me. They might have been just passing by but still.

Chris
NJ

Oh Patrick that is really awesome. The Rufous are such gorgeous little birds. I wish I could see one someday.

Kendra
zone 5 - MA

Did you check for bands?

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

that must really be something to have 2 species in the yard to enjoy the interaction. keep us posted, patrick. you might have some more rufous mouths to feed soon.



stan
nashville, tn
usda zone6b

Kristin, to the best of my knowledge, I've only seen Anna's (year-round) and rufous (generally short visits here).

Sarah, I'm keeping an eye out for bands, but haven't spotted any.



Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

I have to agree that it must be great to see two different types hummingbirds. I don't know if I could stand the excitment of it.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

There IS a certain excitement when you're so accustomed to seeing just one species and suddenly you see another. It almost has a shock value.

Spring seems to be in full swing...we finally got a couple of warm days and I've spotted a robin's nest in one of my fir trees and a junco nest in one of last year's hanging baskets that still hangs from my garden shed with a dead fucshia in it. I'm hoping to see hummer fledglings any time now.

Today I dug & divided 1 of my 2 clumps of Salvia B & B. This is looking like a big salvia year in my yard, altho I expected to see a number of LIR and subrotunda seedlings appearing...very few so far. I'm going to go out there and toss around some of the seeds I harvested last fall.

Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place