Greetings All,
Yesterday morning I encountered a female hummingbird that immediately stood out as different from the regular west-siders, and suspected of being a Black-chinned (BCHU). The location was within the green belt, native vegetation around the Forest Service office near Ken Lake and off of Black Lake Blvd. The bird immediately stood out as being very pale below, with very light gray tones extending up into the face, sides of neck with a rather small and slim build and longish, slender bill. The first encounter was rather short, as the bird moved in and perched briefly at a distance of about 25 feet. The bird disappeared and despite searching could not be relocated immediately. This left a rather unsettling impression, that I had just missed an opportunity for something really interesting. This would be the fourth time I have come across a bird on the Westside that I suspected of being a BCHU. All were brief encounters; all in the last week of May if memory serves (is there a window of opportunity here?)

Fortunately the bird returned between 1022 and 1025, at which time the back and tail pattern were seen well as the bird flew in, hovered, perched, and fanned its tail several times. The bird seemed to be loosely associated with a small migrant flock of passerines that passed through yesterday AM and included Black-Throated Gray, Wilsons, Orange-crowned, and Yellow Warblers, as well as Warbling Vireo and a probably Hammands Flycatcher. Despite periodic searching, the bird has not been seen again. I had hoped the bird might appear again this AM, but no such luck and is likely on the move. I have some fairly detailed notes written immediately following the observation for any who may be interested, as this is potentially a first county sighting.

Cheers and good birding,
Bill Shelmerdine, Olympia
mailto: georn1 at hotmail.com