1/16/02...A RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD was found by Mike Bochnik in Yonkers,
NY on 11/17/01. Check out Kevin
and Jay McGowan's fabulous photos of this bird and
see an explanation of what makes it a Rufous and not an
Allen's. The Rufous was
last reported on 1/6.
Mike
Bochnik's 1/5 report on the NYSBIRDS mailing list:
"After
a 5 day absence the immature male Rufous Hummingbird was seen
at Lenoir Nature Preserve in Yonkers, NY today (Jan 5) between
12:30 and 3 PM. He was not spending his time at the butterfly
garden but at the feeders in back of the nature center. He
roosted in the evergreens nearby and made infrequent visits
to the feeder hanging on the trestle. He also visited the one
near the seed feeders. This one is heated. Beverly Smith gets
the ingenuity award for this one. There's a glass fish tank
laying on it's side on a stand. Inside it is heated bird bath,
The hummingbird feeder sits in the bird bath. Its the only
one that has remained unfrozen. The other feeder is wrapped
in mylar and black tape to insulate it from the cold.
On
Friday 12/7, a second hummingbird, of the genus Archilocus
(which makes it either Black-chinned or Ruby-throated), was
seen at the same location. This second bird has been seen
several times since then but a positive ID has not yet been
made. The Archilocus was last reported
12/23. For photos and details about the Archilocus
at Lenoir, see Andy
Guthrie's writeup. From
the 12/14 NYC RBA:
"The
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD frequenting the red Pineapple Sage Salvia
in the butterfly garden has been joined occasionally since
last Friday by an Archilocus Hummingbird, which it usually
chases off. Not seen exceptionally well, this second hummingbird
also appeared late Saturday afternoon, not at all on Sunday,
but then again quickly Tuesday at midday. The judgment currently
is that it is a RUBY-THROATED, and not a BLACK-CHINNED. More
photos and good notes are desired. Also at Lenoir recently,
have been HOUSE WREN and NASHVILLE WARBLER, and Saturday, about
25 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS came in, with a few still there
as recently as yesterday."
Mike
Bochnik's 11/27 report on the NYSBIRDS mailing list:
"The
immature male Rufous Hummingbird continues at Lenoir Nature
Preserve in Yonkers at least through Tuesday, November 27,
2001. During times of sun and warmth, the bird may disappear
for quite some time, feeding on insects nearby, but patience
will always pay off. The bird put on quite a show Monday afternoon.
He chased many birds from the garden, and then was seen chasing
chickadees and titmice at the top of a nearby dead tree. This
morning, Tuesday, the bird was busy feeding at the feeder in
the garden and again chasing away other birds. At times he
was swooping down into the garden and chattering (kind of a
slurred two noted chip). He was trying to drive off an oblivious
Ruby-crowned Kinglet deep in the garden foliage."
Mike's
earlier report (posted 11/19): "The selasphorus hummingbird,
believed to be a Rufous, continues at Lenoir Nature Preserve
in Yonkers, New York, Westchester County. It was seen throughout
the day on Sunday, sometimes taking 15- 20 minute breaks from
feeding in the hummingbird / butterfly garden on the Pineapple
Sage, a plant that doesn't start to bloom till late October
and can remain in bloom into December -barring a killing frost.
It was observed again today, Monday Nov. 19 at 8:45 am, perched
on budlea and occasionally feeding.
Directions:
"Take the Saw Mill River Parkway to Exit 9, Executive Blvd. Take Executive
Blvd. to North Broadway and turn right. Go 1/4 mile and turn left onto Dudley
Street. Lenoir's parking lot is on the left. Walk up from the lot past the nature
center, follow the paved path for a few minutes till you get to the butterfly
garden. More information, with a map showing where the garden is located can
be found at http://www.hras.org/wtobird/lenoir.html."
Rufous
Hummingbird, November 2002
11/6/02...An
immature female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was
found by Mike Bochnik at Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers, NY on
11/3. Last year, there was an immature male Rufous in the same
spot. Check out Jay
McGowan's fabulous photos of this year's bird and
see a discussion of the details considered in identifying the
species. The Rufous was last
reported on November 5.
Directions: Take
the Saw Mill River Parkway to Exit 9, Executive Blvd. Take
Executive Blvd. to North Broadway and turn right. Go 1/4
mile and turn left onto Dudley Street. Lenoir's parking lot
is on the left. Walk up from the lot past the nature center,
follow the paved path for a few minutes till you get to the
butterfly garden. More information, with a map showing where
the garden is located can be found at http://www.hras.org/wtobird/lenoir.html.
Selasphorus
Hummingbird(s), October - November 2002
11/29/02...A SELASPHORUS
HUMMINGBIRD was
found at Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers, NY on 10/29/02. The
Selasphorus genus includes Rufous, Broad-tailed, and Allen's
species,
and the bird that has been at Lenoir this year is most
likely a Rufous. Last year, there was an immature male
Rufous in the same spot. Check
out Jay
McGowan's fabulous photos of this year's bird and
see Kevin McGowan's discussion of the details considered
in identifying the species and the reasons why he believes
it is an immature female RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD. The
bird was last reported seen on Thanksgiving, November 28,
when Michael Bochnik posted this note to NYSBIRDS-L:
The cold temperatures at Lenoir Nature Preserve in Yonkers
killed off the Pineapple Sage that the immature female Rufous
Hummingbird was feeding on. The leaves had all turned black.
All the feeders were frozen too.
By the way, last year I measured the freezing point of
the sugar water. It's about 27.5 degrees.
Anyway the bird was not seen in the morning. I was there
mid day and cleaned the feeders and put in some fresh warm
sugar water. Luckily I was there to do that. The bird came
in about 15 minutes later and went straight to a feeder.
If I wasn't there she wouldn't have had anything to eat on
Thanksgiving!
It was kind of weird seeing the hummingbird with some snow
on the ground.
Happy Thanksgiving
A
second hummer was reported by one person on 11/20/02, and
there was some speculation that this new bird might be
a BROAD-TAILED
HUMMINGBIRD...but this
is uncomfirmed at this point and the second bird has not
been seen again.
Directions: Take
the Saw Mill River Parkway to Exit 9, Executive Blvd. Take
Executive Blvd. to North Broadway and turn right. Go 1/4
mile and turn left onto Dudley Street. Lenoir's parking lot
is on the left. Walk up from the lot past the nature center,
follow the paved path for a few minutes till you get to the
butterfly garden. More information, with a map showing where
the garden is located can be found at http://www.hras.org/wtobird/lenoir.html.
