Well, I can finally say the Rufus are back. I thought I saw one of the pretty 'brown' hummingbirds shining like brass in the sun the other day...but I couldn't confirm. This morning, a beautiful male visited a feeder six inches from my nose. What a delight.
I also continue to see pretty dark, scruffy Mountain Chickadees...perhaps soon I will see a mess of fledglings. So far at least two families of Black-billed Magpies have brought their raucous youngsters with as many as six or eight of the 'flying orcas' on the ground. While I've yet to see fledged Yellow Warblers (they LOVE the aphids all over the chokecherry bushes), which usually have at lest one baby Huey-looking cow-bird in tow...they continue to feed 2-3 or more at a time here. I've watched Bullock's Orioles, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Am. Robins, White-breasted Nuthatches and House Finches feed begging babies...as well as the #...@#! starlings and house sparrows, too. There are suddenly nearly a dozen black-backed Lesser Goldfinch around...perhaps they've bred here as well. I understand it might be early for goldfinch, though. The White-winged Dove still drops in every couple of days...but I really don't watch for it. Someone asked if they might cross with the pigeons...er... Eurasian Collared Doves...but I've read they are probably not able. White-winged Doves are closer to the pretty little Mourning Doves, apparently. Who knows why they hang with the riff- raff. And, while the hummingbird count seems low...it's picking up. Perhaps both the Broad-tailed and the Black-chins have fledged recently, too. Oh, and the red-shafted Northern Flicker is back...lapping up finch feed while hanging awkwardly under the feeder. Too funny. Beverly Jensen, 719-989-1398 www.RuralChatter.blogspot.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
