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Post by Gardendipity on Jan 4, 2011 15:10:29 GMT -5
We just saw our first Rufous hummer today around 2:00 p.m. I got a nice extended close-up view, but didn't get a photo. It was a big surprise, I didn't expect to see a Rufous!
We currently have a number of hummers in our yard, but we aren't able to tell exactly how many. We have 9 feeders up now. We have at least one male ruby throated, and at least two female ruby throateds. A couple of days ago we had two males, two females.
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Post by moboston on Jan 4, 2011 20:06:27 GMT -5
If it hangs around, you should let Fred Bassett know so he can band in your yard. even if it doesn't he would probably band the Rubies. You can reach him through Steve, Joe M. or myself. We all have his email addy.
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Post by Gardendipity on Jan 6, 2011 14:33:43 GMT -5
The Rufous is still in our yard, we see him at least once a day.
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Post by Gardendipity on Jan 17, 2011 12:15:41 GMT -5
Just checking in to report that we still have our little Rufous visitor in our yard. We also have a male black-chinned hummer (we thought he was a male RTH, but we now think he's a black-chinned), and a female RTH.
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Post by Gary Waldrop on Apr 28, 2011 7:57:58 GMT -5
Amazed to see a hummingbird in My yard around the pineapples that grow wild. First hummingbird I have ever seen in Florida. It was gray with a little green tint.
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Post by Joe M on Apr 28, 2011 8:51:35 GMT -5
Suggest that the bird was almost certainly a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. When I saw the post under 'Rufous in Riverview' I was shocked! Would be a first for the FL at this time of the year.
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Gardendipity on Apr 28, 2011 10:47:32 GMT -5
It WAS a Rufous. We had Rufous in our yard December through April, along with a Black Chin and several Rubys.
We've had Ruby's in our yard for four or five years and had never seen any other kind of hummer in our yard. This December was different, we got Rubys, a Black Chin and the Rufous.
Steve Backus lives in Valrico and has had some Rufous too, and that is only about a 10 minute drive from where we live. We keep eight feeders up year-round now, plus we have many hummingbird plants all around the house. We are expanding our plantings this year. At this writing we think all of our hummers have migrated as we haven't seen them in a couple of weeks.
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Post by Steve Backes on Apr 28, 2011 14:55:05 GMT -5
I don't want to speak for Joe but I'm sure he was referring to Gary's post of "a hummingbird" recently seen in his yard. April is late for a Rufous in Florida.
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jan
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by jan on Apr 28, 2011 19:49:41 GMT -5
It is indeed possible for a Rufous this time of year! My photo shows the Rufous that I had the pleasure of watching in my yard from Jan thru May of last year. This photo was taken May 2, 2010, the day before he left my yard after his gorget matured into this beautiul deep red. I am about 2 hours south of Joe, in Cape Coral on the southwest coast. In the last few weeks this little guy was here, it was aproaching 90 degrees and I couldn't believe he was still hanging around! He inspired my interest in hummers and I'm so disappointed he didn't return this year to his 'snowbird' home. Attachments:
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Post by Steve Backes on Apr 28, 2011 21:15:24 GMT -5
There are exceptions to most rules which is why we use terms like "almost certainly". When the data was collected for The Birdlife of Florida, published in 1994, the latest spring report for a Rufous Hummingbird was on April 3rd. Jan's May 3rd report is considerably later than any previously published report so it's safe to call it an exception. This is why I created this site... in hopes of documenting more of these exceptions.
Steve
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Post by Joe M on Apr 29, 2011 15:32:18 GMT -5
Steve,
And other readers,
I understand there are certainly exceptions! My comments were primarily related to the description of the hummer.
"It was gray with a little green tint.".
This 'partial description' would 'partially' describe most hummers here in FL. Had 'Cinnamon', 'golden brown', or other colorations relating to a rusty brown been mentioned I would probably not have made my comment. Did not wish to create a 'stir' and would love this report to be a Rufous, but I am skeptical.
Sincerely,
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Gardendipity on Apr 29, 2011 18:25:33 GMT -5
Hello Joe M. And thanks. Your posting didn't bother me at all, I was just trying to explain that we are sure that's what we saw here. Now I see it wasn't even related to my original posting. I'm sorry! Sometimes postings when they are read, carry a completely different tone than what was intended, and I didn't intend to make anyone think I was upset or anything... I was just trying to communicate that we are very familiar with Rubys and we're sure it was a Rufous.
Thanks for posting, again! I always enjoy your postings.
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Post by Joe M on Apr 30, 2011 10:23:12 GMT -5
I was replying to Gary's post.
I should have been more specific.
Sorry for the confusion.
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Ron Smith on Jul 11, 2011 11:41:18 GMT -5
The "latest in spring" Rufous Hummingbird ever reported in Pinellas County was one observed at Fort De Soto Park at length by Lyn Atherton on 21 May (1995). It was videotaped by Brooks Atherton.
So, in other words, April isn't too late and with the crazy, though uneventful weather we had this spring, anything is possible.
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Post by RR on Jan 8, 2012 13:55:20 GMT -5
I saw my first Rufous today! I usually have the occasional Ruby but noticed this one was different. I live in Lakeland, FL. Hopefully it will stick around. I have two hummingbird feeders up. My mom saw a Rufous in her yard yesterday - she lives in Bartow, FL.
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Post by moboston on Jan 8, 2012 19:05:47 GMT -5
Congrats on your Rufous! May I ask where you live in Lakeland? There have been a few Rufous banded here in the last couple of years and they do have a pretty good fidelity rate. Check on the right leg to see if there is a silver band. Even if it is not one that was banded here before, there have been a number of them banded in the last couple of months in the Panhandle area and with the cold weather, we may be seeing some of those that came south.
The female I have that showed up in late October comes to visit me a couple times a week but I go days without seeing her. I have seen at least 2or 3 others at times but none have stayed. I live in South Lakeland off Hallam. I also had a male Rufous last winter but haven't seen him this year, he was never caught. Friends have had females as well here in South Lakeland.
If it stays around, Fred Bassett will be here the 3rd week of this month and he is particulary interested in Rufous. You can contact him by getting in touch with Steve, Joe or myself. I think Joe posted about Fred's coming here.
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Post by RR on Jan 21, 2012 9:20:14 GMT -5
Hi! Thanks for responding; I just got back on this site for the first time since I posted. Yes, I still have the Rufous. I believe it is a juvenile male. It has an all brown back (no green), yet no orange/red gorget yet. It's quite small and looks like a penny perched in the tree. Will look to see if it has a band on leg. I will try and take a pic and post it. That's great about other spottings in the area! I only thought we had Rubies til I saw mine and did some research online. I live in the Dixieland neighborhood off of S. Florida Ave, near Lake Hunter and Lake Hollingsworth.
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Post by moboston on Jan 21, 2012 12:39:12 GMT -5
Oh No! Wish you could have responded sooner - Fred, the banded from Alabama was in Lakeland on Thursday and most certainy would have liked to get a look at it. If you saw the article in today's (Sat) paper, you know he banded 5 birds at Joe's, 1 at my house and he got 4 at another gal's house. I know he is coming back down to Gainesville soon and there will be a bander coming down from Georgia but she isn't planning n coming this far west. However, you never know if you could get a picture of it, someone might be able to confirm and a bander just might be inticed to come back down.
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Post by Joe M on Jan 21, 2012 16:24:17 GMT -5
IF 'RR who is registered as a guest would like to get more information and confirmation of the hummer in her yard I would suggest she 'registers as a member so I may send a 'personal msg with contact information and help verify his/her observation. We are always hoping to expand our contacts in the Lakeland area. Also post under Hummers in 'Lakeland rather than Riverview. Rufous and other vagrant hummers are always of special interest to me.
Joe M
Lakeland
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