I've been enjoying a few Rubythroats in my yard and Dad's since TS Lee passed through. I sat down to take a few pictures and was surprised to see a Rufous.





Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Joan,

Good for you and Dad! Great capture...being in the right place at the right time.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Thanks Penny. It's early for Rufous around here but I'll take one anytime!

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

I thought it seemed a bit early but just maybe he was here last year and wanted to stake out his territory before the rest came in for the winter. Hopefully he will stick around or at least stay in the area for the duration. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

It's an immature bird so this is his first visit south. We tried to catch him for 3 hours this afternoon. We'll give it a try in the morning. At least he entertained us with his antics.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Here are a few shots from this afternoon. They aren't cropped; he was 4 feet away from us.




Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Great shots Joan! Well since this is his first trip there could be many ore seasonal visits after this year. I would love to have a Rufous. I really love their coloring of their plumage.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Add a female Rufous. We caught the male and are trying for the female.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

WOOHOO!!!! Y'all will get her I am sure.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Pretty colors! Rusty comes to mind. Enjoy!!

Pam
Matawan,NJ 6B

Well, Nancy caught them both. I'm speechless. I was hoping this yard would be better than mine, but this is a bit early to have 2.Here is the female in hand.

Other shots...




Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

That is awsome!! Well done Nan!! Maybe this is a sign of wmore to come Joan!

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I sure hope so. It's fun to go banding but it's nice when the birds are in your yard for a change.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Joan sure knows how to give a party!!!!! It was a beautiful morning to sit and watch hummers in the spectacular landscape Joan has created. There were at least 4 Ruby-throateds in addition to the 2 Rufous. Both male and female Rufous are young of the year, which is especially heartening since we have been having fewer Rufous in recent seasons.

Some years, I don't band the first winterer until sometime in October, but here we are with a lot of September left and I've gotten 3 already. The first was at one of our longtime sites last week. It was a youngster as well. The fun is just beginning!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
USDA Zone 9
http://www.casacolibri.net/

Y'all are gonna flip, but while posting I saw a Rufous outside my window at MY house....unbelievable!

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Sorry! double-posted in my excitement.

Joan
Double postings due to that sort of excitement is allowed. Here is a super duper big CONGRATULATIONS! and a heartfelt WOOOHOOO!

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Thanks Penny! I hit the jackpot!

Joan

Yes you did indeed.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

It sure has been crazy here with approx 10 RTH flying all around my backyard. But I wish I could get a rufous like you:>( Of course, I dont have nearly the pretty hummer garden you have, but have been working hard to get a more hummer friendly yard.

I love this time of the year with our pretty weather and hummers fighting each other:>) And the Saints are playing tonite!!!

Keep posting your pixs. I love to know what you and Nancy are up to.

Joan,

I think you are now officially barred from complaining about lack of birds for a while.

Congratulations - you worked very hard for these! No signs of a winterer here yet.



Kevin Morgan
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Really cool, Joan... great shots!

Thanks y'all. I'll hush up for a while.
Nancy is coming by in the morning to try and catch the bird at my house.
Linda, your yard is lovely and I'm sure we'll be there soon to catch some winter hummers.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Great photos!

Joan - don't hush up, let's just hope all your posts have as much good news to report!

Still watching for my first winterer here. Jeff is doing the same.



Kevin Morgan
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

As slow as my summer was until August this year, I know how you all anticipate the arrival of ANY winter birds. I am thrilled that Joan had a Rufous find her little oasis and Kevin here is hoping that you are next in line.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

and may you have many more.

Elle
Eastern Michigan
Zone 5

Joan Joan Where have I been??? Oh my, I am soooooo happy for you! I know how hard and long you have waited to see hummingbirds in yours and now your Dad's yard you have two Rufous!!! Excellent photos of that gorgeous male. I can just visualize yours and Nancy's excitement....and interesting about the early migrations. Hope this is just the start of a fantastic year for y'all...and I sure wish I could see this.

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Joan & Nancy - I'm excited for you to be seeing & banding the rufous hummers! The last rufous juvie I saw here was at least 2 weeks ago. It'll be a long time before I spot any in my backyard. Sure glad I have Anna's to fill the gap.


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

Joan! Congratulations on pic of the day! Gorgeous colors on that Rufous and the blossome on that Cuphea complements that beautiful rusty coloring so well! Hope you are continuing to see these beauties!

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Patrick,

If I get any Rufous this year, I'll be happy to swap you for an Anna's.



Kevin Morgan
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Geez, I just went to log in and found I've BEEN logged in for days. Woops!
Thanks y'all!
Haven't seen the rufous for days but they did stay for maybe 6 days after banding. I think usually the adults will show up who have been banded and then the immature come in looking for a territory. I'm just glad they stayed a while and were banded.
I've been seeing maybe 5 birds at my Dad's and several at my house. Can't complain!

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9