It is that time of year on Denman when new birds are arriving nearly every day. The first few reports of the arrival of Rufous Hummingbirds are appearing. The Anna’s Hummingbirds, who have been here all winter, are now secluding themselves as they are in the middle of nesting/brooding/hatching work.
A Rufous returned to my feeder earlier this past week, displacing the Anna’s that had stayed through the winter. John
Dennis Forsyth reports: It is only a relatively short time, a few years, that we have had Anna’s over-wintering this far north – possibly something to do with climate change – but they have certainly become fairly common here over the winter months. Of course, they are quite dependant on humans supplying a food source, although they will also visit many of our winter-flowering plants. Jasmine and Rosemary are particular favourites. And they are not above looking at anything that resembles a blossom. These photos show an Anna’s digging through the snow drift last December and another one attracted by a Christmas light that promised more than it could deliver, and finally our much more common summer resident, the Rufous in full regalia.
Photos by Dennis Forsyth
