Hi, gang,

A couple of firsts here...

My first post...

And... I'm happy to report my first occurence of a Rufous Hummingbird in my own backyard! A big deal to me partly because of my location (I'm in a subdivision a couple miles north of Covington, Louisiana, which is quite a bit more northerly than most Louisiana winter hummer sightings). So, needless to say, quite a surprise when I spotted a stray hummer on one of my feeders on the afternoon of 1/14/09. I hadn't seen ANY hummer since early October. I would have been happy with a Ruby-throat! Anyway, after frantically calling Nancy, and exclaiming my "prize" (I had strongly suspected Rufous), she asked me to take a few pictures and send them. I did that, and, thankfully, Nancy replied with a "Rufous" declaration. Fortunately for me, Nancy was already planning on coming to another Covington site the next morning, so she said she would come by my house afterwards. So, I decided to meet Nancy at our other site (the Owens residence where we regularly go), and we caught one adult male Rufous which was already reported earlier here. After missing out on two other Rufous (one adult male, plus a female), we came back to my house and set up one of the traps. And in less than two minutes, we got her! Well, I was just "fit to be tied"... and Nancy confirmed her initial ID of Rufous, female (second year).

So that's the story so far. I have since dubbed her "Rufousella"... tho' perhaps not too original, it seemed to fit. As of today, 1/16/09 - 3 days later - she's still hanging around! And, she managed to avoid a sly Cooper's Hawk that surpisingly landed in my yard this afternoon looking for lunch!

Happy hummering everyone!

Tom Trenchard

Thanks for joining;look forward to your posts and pictures.

-
Cheers,Bob
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b
It's Winter!

Glad to see you posting on the forum. This is the "Tom" I refer to when I mention Tom in my banding posts. He's a very good scribe (better than I am) and a great birder (way better than I am.) He is also retrieving the trapped birds for Nancy and running some traps. A great asset. I'm so happy you have a visitor. Hope she stays a while.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Tom,

Congrats on joining the Winter Hummer Club!

I had a second bird show up briefly at my feeders this afternoon. I only got a few seconds' look at her, but she appears to be a female Archilochus, probably a Ruby-throated. I've never had a wintering Ruby-throat (for certain) before, though of course we get plenty in migration. I'll be keeping an eye peeled for her tomorrow to see if she's still around.

Kevin Morgan
Baton Rouge, LA

Tom, I know it must be really hard to "do without" when you assist Nancy in so many Hummingbird Havens. I'm glad you finally got one, hope lots more are lurking.

Lizette, New Orleans, La.
USDA Zone 9

Thank you to Bob, Joan, Kevin and Lisette for welcoming me to the group! I will do my best to keep everyone posted on the latest comings and goings of my visitors! My little "Rufousette" appeared this morning even after a very cold morning. I was worried I'd lose her... but she made out just fine! This is her 4th day with me...

Hope everyone's hum-visitors stay healthy and warm!

Happy hummering!

Tom Trenchard

Hi there Tom and welcome. It is nice to be able to add to our group those who are able to get the western vagrants while the rest of us have to be content with whatever species of bird in general they may see over the winter.

Speaking of hawks...I have seen way more than usual this winter here in NY in city yards. Probably due to the the really cold and snowy weather we had had the entire season this year. Normally we get snow and then a bit of a warm up so that all or most of it melts but this year we seam to be caught in a sold block of white everywhere and those hawks are out in force.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Hi and Welcome Tom to the forum!! So glad you are posting have heard so many neat things about you and your banding experiences with Nancy and crew. Hooray for Rufousella and hope she does stay around for you!

Its just great to hear about all you LA folks having such fun with hummers - like Penny says all we can do is enjoy your reports and hope our Spring and hummers come soon!!



Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Welcome Tom and congratulations on your winter hummer.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

Hi, all... thanks to Penny, Carol and Dianne for the welcome. I'm still watching out for Rufousella, but I'm sad to report that my last sighting of her was January 17th. Well, I had her 4 days. I just hope she found a new place with lots of good nectar. I wish her well.

While watching out for her today (still hoping), I found a couple of Field Sparrows... new birds for my yardlist (got one yesterday). I can't help but wonder if they've been hiding in all those Chipping Sparrows trying their impersonation of one! Those little sly buggers! Anyone else getting them?

A gorgeous day today... looks good for hummers... I just hope they're thinking the same thing!

Happy Hummering!

Tom Trenchard

Tom I am sorry your little friend hasn't shown back up. Maybe either she or another one will.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

A hardy Southern welcome to you Tom! Nice to meet you.

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

Welcome, Tom, & many more to you!! I won't see one for a few months now, other than in a magazine. I'm finally back after I hiatus. Yes, the hawk (& crows) are on the increase, I do believe.

Joni
Elwood, IL
Zone 5

Still no Rufousella, 18 days later. Well, I guess she is really gone for the season. Maybe she'll show up next year.

But, we have a really cold night coming, and I'm hoping that it might bring in another little gem. Just a gut feeling, maybe, but I have my fingers crossed. When Rufousella showed up it was right around the time when a really cold front came thru. Maybe I'll have a repeat. Hope everyone is having better luck than me.

Hoping to make a banding trip soon with Nancy, Steve, Joan and Kevin!

Happy Hummering!

Tom T.

No luck at my house Tom. The only thing using the feeder is an Orange-crowned warbler. And, of course, the bees.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9