Hi Everyone
This morning Mary Schuster and I headed off early to look for the Rufous
Hummingbird. We arrived at about 0830, immediately found a RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER, met the very friendly owner of the property, heard a CAROLINA
WREN, then saw the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at the feeder. We stayed until about
1030, and had several good looks at the bird at the feeder and basking in
the sun in various trees around the west side of the property.
Mary and I believe this is an immature male Rufous Hummingbird. It has
rufous colouring on the back which extends from the top of the head all the
way down to the tail. There is some diffuse green mottling on the back, but
I believe there is more chestnut all the way up than would be seen in any
plumage of Allen's. (This based on several field guides and no personal
experience!) The gorget is pale with streaking and some spotting of colour.
I was able to digiscope a few shots of the bird. I have just sent the best
shot to the OFO webpage.
After we left the hummer we went on to Amherst Island, where we had a great
afternoon of raptor watching. On the ferry ride over we had close looks at
several COMMON LOONS. Driving around the island we found ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS
almost everywhere we looked. They were mostly light phase but several dark
phase were seen. There were also many RED-TAILED HAWKS, NORTHERN HARRIERS,
and a few AMERICAN KESTRELS. Next in the Owl Woods we found 4 LONG-EARED
OWLS and 1 NORTHERN SAWHET OWL. Around 4:00 we found 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS
being harrased by 2 Harriers along the north road.
What a fabulous day to be out birding!
Directions to the hummingbird as posted by Bob Sachs
DIRECTIONS: from Hwy 401 @ km. 623 go south on Hwy 15 to the T-junction at
Hwy 2 and then east on #2 Hwy to King Pitt Rd., then south on King Pitt Rd.
to #24 at the end of the Road.
CONDITIONS: The owners are birder-friendly. They request that visiting
birders not block the streets or driveways Please visit in small groups, 5
or 6 persons at a time are welcome to watch the hummingbird feeder on the
south side of the house from a distance of 20 ft. A good vantage point is
the row of rocks at about that distance south of the feeder.
Directions to Amherst Island and the owl woods.
The ferry to Amherst Island leaves Millhaven (east of Kingston) every hour
on the half. Cost is $5 return per car. To get to the owl woods, drive off
the ferry straight to the 4 way stop. Turn left. Turn right on the first
(very small unmarked, unmaintained) road. Follow the road to an S curve
where you will see a sign marking the entrance to the woods.
Good Birding
Carol
Carol Horner
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Carol Horner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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