Subject: [Tweeters] Calliope Hummer in Pierce County
Date: Apr 29 11:22:09 2008
From: Jim Flynn - merlinmania at comcast.net


Hi Tweets,

Well some days it pays (besides the money thing) to go to work. I work close to Canyon
Road, near Puyallup's South Hill. Around 10:30 this morning I looked up from my desk
to see a hummingbird feeding on Red Huckleberry flowers. The shrubs are only about
15 feet from where I sit and even naked eye I could see that something was odd about
this bird. The flash of color coming off the gorget was not right for a Rufous Hummer and
the back was green, but the bird was definitely smaller than an Anna's Hummer and the
underparts color were wrong as well.

Oddly Anna's Hummer is rare in this neighborhood as I have only seen them here twice
in four years. Picking up my "work binoculars" I was shocked to see the gorget of a male
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD! Unfortunately the bird took off and I haven't been able to find it
again (yet). I'll let you know if I do.

good birding,

--
Jim Flynn
merlinmania at comcast.net
Seattle, WA