Yesterday, 11/22/04 I observed the hatch-year female Calliope Hummingbird at the location near Bowie, MD. Despite a large volume of noisy activity in the area (mowers, leaf-blowers, garbage pick-up, delivery trucks), the hummer visited the feeder at least four times during the 1 1/4 hours I was there. It seems to retreat to the area (inaccessible to viewers) behind the house after feeding, although it sometimes perched unobtrusively in the small holly near the feeders. When it returned to feed it usually flew to the bare tree branches of the tree directly in front of the house suggesting it flies over the roof to the front. The very overcast skies make color distinction nearly impossible until it gets to the feeder area. In the very poor light, I managed a few grainy photos with my digital camera and also with the digiscope. For those the might not get to the site, they are located here: http://nestbox.com/sections/rare/calliope.htm.

On the home front, here in northern Calvert County, PINE SISKINS continue to visit both my hanging thistle feeders and my window platform feeder along with EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, PURPLE FINCHES along with the usual residents. A FOX SPARROW is being seen daily on the ground pecking at white millet and a handsome male Y-B SAPSUCKER frequents the suet.

Arlene Ripley
Calvert County, MD

piwa AT comcast DOT net
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