Never before sighting in Clearwater, FL

[Harold]

I saw the first hummingbird ever in Clearwater in the Countryside area at 12 midnight tonight Aug 20, 2012.
We've lived here 31 years and have tried unsuccessfully for several years to attrack these wonderful birds to no avail.
Tonight as I let the dog out our side door one was hovering about 15 ft away, feeding on a Yuca (I think) plant in the neighbor's yard.
We're going to put a couple of feeders out tomorrow and buy some plants in an attempt to keep this one in the neighborhood.
I couldn't tell what color it was because of dim light. I used a flashlight to see better but only caught a glimpse again before it flew away.
We used to see them in Michigan all the time so I know what they look like and how they fly and eat. This was deffinately a hummingbird.

[Joe M]

The only Yucca known to attract Hummers is the 'Red Yucca which I have not known to be very common in FL. The 'Red Yucca is actually not a true Yucca but rather a member of the Agae succulent family. We had them in TX but I have not seen any in FL.
The most likely pollinator of true Yucca's are various moths including the Hummingbird 'look-a-like Sphinx moth. Moths are most active in the evening, hummers are not except when migrating and even then stop to feed and rest during the daylight hours.
Considering that your sighting was at midnight I am skeptical that it was a hummer which are not known to be nocturnal feeders.
Joe M.
Lakeland