Regarding Scott Atkinson's comments on Ruby-crowned Kinglets making sudden sallies from the ground, I noticed the same thing yesterday in Discovery Park. It was neither snowing or raining but there was at least six inches of snow on the ground and around freezing. A small flock of five or six Dark-eyed Juncos were scratching around in an area of grass clumps, every 2-3 seconds a junco would launch itself upwards, above the height of the clump, circa 6 to 18". Like Scott, I wondered if they might be catching any little diptera, disturbed from its warm spot by the flock. Anna's Hummingbird are quite insectivous, hunting with sallies from a small twig year round. I watched a male ANHU during the snow days in Seattle, visiting the big white flowers with yellow anthers of a Sasanqua camellia in the yard. Was it nectaring or was it also gleaning tiny insects, spiders, or their eggs?

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David Hutchinson, Owner
Flora & Fauna: Nature Books
Discovery Gardens: Native Plants
3212 W.Government Way
Seattle,WA.98199
http://www.ffbooks.net/
206-623-4727