lynne
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Posts: 38
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Post by lynne on Jan 30, 2011 20:01:22 GMT -5
I live in Jupiter Fl., Palm beach County. I have a large cape honeysuckle tree in the back of my apt. Today I sat watching 2 Annas feeding on it then they would perch on my leafless crepe mertle tree just a few feet from where I was sitting. I was able to id 2 female annas by their very small red bibs on their throats. Hope this helps out with knowing their locations in Florida. I have seen them on other occasions but not sitting at rest so that I could I D them.
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Post by floridagardener on Jan 30, 2011 22:32:35 GMT -5
Lynne - Are you sure it was an Anna and not a Ruby-throated hummingbird? I hadn't heard about any Anna's south of me. I'd love to see a photo of one of your birds! Very interesting!
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lynne
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Posts: 38
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Post by lynne on Jan 31, 2011 0:47:46 GMT -5
Im pretty sure. I used a bird book to ID it. She had a very small red bib that a female anna has. Unless a young male Ruby has a small bib just under the throat & white tips on a green tail. The 2 birds were not being territorial either. I have a bird feeder that I have a whole flock of house sparrows feed at and a visiting Baltimore oriole all perching in the crepe mertle tree and they were not bothered by all the activity. I gave up years ago on sugarwater feeders. I might start putting one out again. Now that the cape honey suckle tree is attracting attention. I also have been putting out tangerines cut in half & a cup with blueberry jam for the Oriole.
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Post by floridagardener on Jan 31, 2011 20:42:10 GMT -5
Anna's are usually only seen in the western part of the USA. It would be quite a rarity to see one in Florida. Yours might have been an immature male ruby-throated hummer. But who knows? Anything is possible, I'm sure! Maybe you can get a close-up photo of it to post and share here. Congrats on all your birds!
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Post by Joe M on Feb 2, 2011 10:14:31 GMT -5
Lynne, suffice to say if you have an Anna' s you will be inundated with birders attempting to catch a photo or two. Very unlikely that it's an Anna's but.... I will never doubt the possibility. The red marking on the gorget is not, I emphasize, not a primary identifyer since several females in other groups also have this charcteristic.
Virtually impossible to identify a female Anna's without having it 'in hand' so the primaries can be more closely examined. However there is a chance if you heard it vocalize you might be able to confirm an Anna's.
Very unusual vocalization compared with other females with similar apperance. BTW.. there is only one confirmed record of an Anna's in FL and that was in Defuniak Springs.
Joe M.
Lakeland
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lynne
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Posts: 38
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Post by lynne on Feb 2, 2011 13:30:19 GMT -5
Joe, Thanks for the info. I don.t think I would have much luck with hearing it vocalize. The flock of house sparrows are so vocal the only birds I hear over them it the equally vocal grackles!!!! I work during the week days & lunch break is the only time I may have of spotting the hummers again until the weekend. I'm afraid they were just passing through. Again thank You. Lynne
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Post by floridagardener on Feb 2, 2011 22:18:18 GMT -5
Lynne - You are south of me on the east coast. I've been told that we mostly get the Ruby-throated hummers. I believe that is probably what your two birds were. I am surprised yours aren't still around. But then, maybe this warm weather we've been having has them fooled thinking Spring has arrived and it is safe to migrant North! (I sure hope not with the freezing temps up in the states north of Florida!) Keep looking for them, as I bet they are still around!
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lynne
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Posts: 38
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Post by lynne on Feb 2, 2011 23:00:55 GMT -5
floridagardener, I also hope they are still around. I better stop by a store & get a hummingbird feeder & put it out. Better late than never. I just had a real ant problem when I used to keep one out. No matter where I put it , it would just fill up with ants.
The weather is going to be a little cooler the rest of this week, maybe I'll catch them sunning themselves again.
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lynne
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Posts: 38
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Post by lynne on Feb 17, 2011 18:42:21 GMT -5
Today at lunch break from work I saw one of my Hummers in the front yard in the orchid trees. This is the 1st sighting I have had since the weekend I saw 2 in my Cape Honeysuckle tree. I'm glad at least 1 is still around. I put out 2 feeders for them that 1st week but have not observed them feeding at one yet. I wish I had a correct Id on them so they could count in the All Bird count this weekend if I spot one. I don't think I could say I spotted a Humming bird without saying what kind... well I'm just happy they are around still.
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Post by Steve Backes on Feb 21, 2011 21:45:45 GMT -5
Done.
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lynne
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Posts: 38
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Post by lynne on Mar 13, 2011 20:14:38 GMT -5
I posted a picture my neighbor took of the hummer, (posted under "what are you seeing") pic is not very good but you can see the primarys are rounded and the dark bib. I,m starting to think maybe a immature male black chinned. The National Geographic field guide said they winter in the Southeast.
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lynne
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Posts: 38
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Post by lynne on Mar 13, 2011 20:25:55 GMT -5
heres another pic with a slight different angle. Attachments:
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