Date: 03/29/2015

Number: 1

I am putting our 1st sighting of Hummingbird as (Other) as we could not get a good look at throat-color since he was in the shade & our light from Sun was going down. Throat just looked black but I did think one time that I saw a quick flash of purple(when he turned his head before he took off)from the only quick "sit feeding" he did. My husband saw the male 1st at 6:25 PM CST (he was gardening and near the feeder). When my husband came to get me to let me know he saw one we then went outside to do our "stake out". Saw him feed 3 times between 6:25 PM & 6:50 PM. He could have been a Ruby-Throat, Or a Black-Chin or another. He could also be a transit as we do get many of those. He was very nervous and flew away at the slightest movement of other birds feeding at our Seed feeder(thus I took it down). He had to be getting food from other sources as he did not stay long each feeding. Only sat once. His feeding was more of a very quick "Fly-by" feeding. Other birds like chickadee's, warbler's and other very shy birds are staying high in the trees on the leaf-out esp. our large mature Oak Trees. We have had several days in the 86-88 Degrees and Sunny today. We had rain and cooler weather 6 days ago. The hummingbird must be feeding on insects as he never did a "long fuel-up" feeding before Sundown. After last feeding he took off high up towards the tallest Mature Oak Trees where he was before put further away that time. We did see him once during the whole time frame go sit on a very tall Oak Lime but I lost him as the small leaves hid him too well. They seem to like it high so they can see everything. We also had a bird that looked like a small Hawk do a quick-stake out for the Seed eating birds but he flew away when I reach for my Binoculers(pardon my spelling). My husband thought he was a "Rock-Dove" but they do not have Brown coloring on the bottom of their chest and this bird took of with a long-glide. This hawk lives in our neighborhood and is a frequent visitor but he usually goes after the "Rock-Doves" at our Seed feeders since they do not fly as fast. After the Hawk left we saw the Hummingbird come back for 2 feedings so pretty sure he was not a snack. The Hawk does not like me out in the back-yard at all. I am going to move a second feeder in another spot tonight as it will give the Hummingbirds more shelter from the Hawk Raids we have. Nothing is blooming in our yard yet. Not even our "Major Wheeler" Honeysuckle. So glad they are back! Been waiting like everyone else since they left last October.

Denton, TX

Latitude: 33.2 Longitude: -97.1

Observed by: Bonnie
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.