Over the last week or so, I have been photographing hummingbirds near Spring Canyon Community Park in southwest Fort Collins. For this late in the season, the number of hummers have been remarkable, somewhere between 10-20 individuals, mostly juvenile Rufous Hummingbirds migrating from the Pacific Northwest. On Saturday at about 1:30 pm, I photographed what I believe is a juv. female Ruby-throated. A photo is in my recent bird photo gallery at www.pbase.com/quetzal . It was among a small group of Rufous Hummingbirds hanging out along the Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal just north of the east end of Michener Rd. in the Quail Hollow neighborhood. Here is a link to the exact spot: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203689917771315853222.0004e714ae7e65929d299&msa=0&ll=40.550072,-105.125245&spn=0.002865,0.004619 . This is the same spot where a Philadelphia Vireo popped up last week (long gone by now, but the habitat is fabulous). The access is from the Spring Creek bike trail. I park about a half-mile away at Cottonwood Park, reached by driving south on Overland Trail until it ends. You can park closer in the residential neighborhood I think.
Juvenile hummers are difficult to identify. I didn't realize what I was looking at in the field, but only after I had studied the photos several times! The first step is to find one the lacks buffy rufous sides. I include notes on the identification with the online photo. Ruby-throats are normally accidental along the front range. I can think of 5 others reported in the last 2 weeks, so maybe their status is changing! Nick Komar Fort Collins, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/698600829.2130624.1379977140499.JavaMail.root%40sz0121a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
