Sunday, December 11, 2011

December 11, 2011 Rufous Hummingbird at Eganville, Renfrew County.

This morning, while reading the Ottawa Citizen Bird Column I noticed another report of a late hummingbird. This time it was coming to a feeder up the valley at Eganville. A couple of weeks earlier another hummer was reported from Russell, Ontario. Unfortunately not at a feeder and only seen briefly. With such a mild fall it didn't surprise me that a hummingbird was still alive. With an overnight low of -6c I hopping the bird was still ok. I waited till 9:00a.m. and phoned Lorna and Dennis Peterson. They reported that the hummer was resting in a crabapple tree near the feeder and that the hummingbird feeder food was frozen. I headed up and arrived around 10:30a.m. and the hummingbird had just left the feeder. The Peterson's informed me that the hummer was feeding every 15-30 minutes. I waited and it appeared on time. Jeff Skevington and his dad, Richard arrived soon after and we all got great views and numerous photos and a video. In Ontario the Rufous Hummingbird is a very rare visitor and has occurred in a number of locations including northern Ontario. There are only a few previously documented records of Rufous Hummingbird  for eastern Ontario including  a adult male at Algonquin Park, July 30-August 3, 1986, an immature male at Battersea near Kingston from September 16- December 19,1987, and another immature male at Kingston, November 21,2003-January 7, 2004.  All were at hummingbird feeders. The Rufous Hummingbird is a well known vagrant to eastern North America and has occurred east to Newfoundland. Any late lingering hummingbird should be closely scrutinize and not assumed a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. There is also a very similar looking hummingbird in the selasphorus genus, the Allen's which has been found in the east. There is a difference in the tail pattern and hopefully that will show well in the video that Jeff obtained. Still no record of Allen's for Ontario. 



Rufous hummingbird at feeder

Rear view showing some of tail pattern. 

Side view of Rufous Hummingbird. Note ice floating in feeder. 


3 comments:

A couple of newer paintings 2019 said...

Amazing! I thought all we got in Eastern Ontario were ruby throated.

C Naturel said...

Congratulations for those excellent pictures, showing great details! Incredible bird to have in our vicinity...

Christian Renault
Pembroke

Scott and Joan said...

Nice pics of your Valley treasure, good neighbours to observe Dad and Lorna