Date: 04/23/2003

Number: 1

Female or juvenile (no red gorget) Ruby-throated hummingbird sighted as it investigated cherry blossoms in the front yard. Last year's first sighting was on May 10 at the back yard feeder. I've had the feeder up for two or three weeks. My daughter Maggie (6th grader at Scott Crossfield Elementary School) made this year's first sighting. She says the hummingbird approached the second floor bedroom window. Last year we were visited by a stray Blue-throated hummingbird. I am confident in my identification because it had prominent white tips on its tail feathers and was larger and more aggressive than our native Ruby-throated hummingbird. I have observed the Blue-throated hummingbird at my parents' ranch near Fredericksburg, Texas. This example of Lampornis clemenciae was observed four times in mid July. Our backyard adjoins Little Difficult Run Stream Valley Park which is heavily wooded with tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipfera), an important food source for hummingbirds.

Herndon, VA

Latitude: 39 Longitude: -77.4

Observed by: John
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