Date: 10/03/2014

Number: 1

Weather--mostly cloudy to cloudy to some breaks in clouds to cloudy with rain after dark--low of 64 F and high of 73 F--very slight winds early in day but began building in the afternoon; began from NE moved to E then to ESE and late afternoon went to SE to S. Winds after dark moved to W.

One bird came to feeder late in the afternoon as the winds came from S. Only fed for a few minutes then moved off to E toward woods.

I have to say that I disagree somewhat with ornithologist Laura Erickson's conclusions about migrants based on my observations here in Virginia. Over the past 15 years I rarely have had any gaps in observation dates before the date of my last sighting. I think that the gaps she observes has to do with her northern location. Virginia would have at least the possibility of many more birds migrating through its territory because there is much more suitable habitat north of it. (Nevertheless a BIG THANK YOU for including all the information on the site--I have learned a lot from your experts.)

By August the majority of the local RT hummers either ignore my presence or actively come near me (but don't buzz me) when I am outside. By mid September the vast majority of the birds are skittish and leave if I am near the feeders (or a few actively buzz me.) I believe (but cannot prove) that the change in behavior indicates these birds are migrants and that nearly all if not all of "my" local birds have migrated.

king george, VA

Latitude: 38.3 Longitude: -77.1

Observed by: jessica
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