This is a backyard report from the central Seattle Madrona area. Our
hummingbird feeder has, for the past 5-10 years been visited daily, around
the calendar by Anna's Hummers. I've seen a Rufous Hummer 2 or 3 times in
that period in our yard. But, during the last three weeks, we've had a
probable young female Rufous here on a regular basis, showing plenty of
rufous on the flanks and tail. I got a pretty good look at it today when
it came and sat on my finger while feeding at the sugar water! I
generally expect the Rufous to be up in the mountain meadows by about mid
August.
The other item involves several Chestnut-backed Chickadees that
are steady visitors to our seed feeders. Over the past decade I have seen
them here only once or twice, even though they are regular inhabitants of
Seward Park, south of here. Interesting to wonder what factors have
brought about these changes.
Fran Wood,(male) 412-36th Ave, <fbwood at u.washington.edu>