While doing the monthly census at Breaker Lake I found two
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, neither of which was anywhere near a
house, let alone a feeder.

The first one I found was a HY male (nearly complete gorget,
but lacking magenta crown feathers) singing happily from
a mix of salal and young alders. It was acting like it was
on territory.

The second bird was a female (probably HY, dull throat with
poorly defined dusky throat spot). It was seen in mature
spruce/alder apparently in association with a mixed feeding
flock of chickadees, kinglets, etc. It responded strongly to
pishing.

I looked for any kind of blooming flowers and found none.
There were, however, swarms of small gnats (>1mm; feathery
antennae).

I can only think of one other time when I have encountered
Anna's Hummingbird away from residential areas in the winter
and that was an arboretum at Shore Acres State Park near
Coos Bay with winter blooming azaleas.

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

If you want to end war and stuff, you've got to sing loud
- Arlo Guthrie