Late Ruby-throats 2009: 

NY: From bander Bob Yunick: An after-hatch-year male Ruby-throated appeared at the feeder of Deb Oare, who lives north of Fonda, NY (Montgomery County), just before Halloween. Deb took the photo at left and several others on November 10. There was no doubt as to species: Bob Yunick cited the "pointed outer primary, bill not decurved and wingtip/tail difference separating it from Black-chinned, the only other look-alike" in identifying it as a RTHU. The bird fed actively on 11/12, and then again on November 14 during heavy rain as a storm passed through. Bob went to band it on 11/15, but the bird did not show. As Bob says " it appears that this is, so far, New England's and New York's latest Ruby-throat, yet an adult male which should have normally departed in August."

NOTE: In the table, last = the last date on which a Ruby-throated Hummingbird of that age/sex was reported from that site.  These are yard/feeder reports, unless otherwise indicated. Late = a sighting that is late, but not known to be the last at that site.

*Dottie Naventi explains was going on in her lakeside yard (feeder competition and diminishing numbers--all indications that migration is in process) :

Additional Migration Reports:

In addition to the "last sightings" above,  there have been other reports detailing hummingbird migration this year:

MAINE:

Bill Sheehan wrote in his September Aroostook County (Northern Maine) blogspot that "The last pulse of migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds passed through the area in early September. Three, including an adult male, lingered at my feeders in Woodland through the 8th. The last juvenile departed on the 13th, a bit on the late side of things."

9/6  Beaver Mtn. Lake, ME Don Herbert  "many of my regulars have headed south; only one female left"    maine-birds. However, on 9/9 Carol Foss reported from Wentworth's Location , north of Umbagog, NH, that she still had at least two fem/juvs, who were " gorging themselves."  NH birds.

9/8  Hummers are beginning to gather around feeding sources. it is too much to call these "flocks", but the aggregations indicate pre-migratory behavior. for instance, William Townsend reported on maine-birds 9/8.."At Thuya Gardens (a public garden similar to the Rockefeller Gardens in Seal Harbor) in Northeast Harbor there were 15-20 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at the same time, all female/immature, feeding on flowers."

9/4  Frenchman Bay ME William Townsend  "several hummingbirds crossing today"   maine-birds

9/10: Gilsland Farm Aud Center in Falmouth ME, 5 hums "seemed to be all over the sanctuary" Erik Hynes, whereas before reporting smaller numbers

9/19  Derek Lovitch et al reported 2 migrating hummingbirds at Sandy Point, Cousins Island, Yarmouth; and Steve and Jane Mirick reported 1 migrating hummingbird at Odiorne Point State Park on the coast of New Hampshire.  On 9/20 Stella reported 3+ hummers migrating through Sandy Point, Yarmouth; and on 9/24 Derek Lovitch reported 1 hummer migrating at Sandy Point.

CONNECTICUT:

9/18  In Stratford, Boothe Park Hawkwatch reported 17 hummers migrating through.  Scott Kruitbosch reporting.  This hawkwatch has been reporting hummers migrating in the previous days as well.

9/14 Migrating hummers have been reported nearly every day at the New Haven, CT  Lighthouse Point Hawkwatch, On Sept 7, Greg Hanisek reported 56 hummingbirds flying through.  And on 9/10, Don Morgan reported 4 hummers migrating through, Hawkwatch site. And on 9/14 Greg Hanisek and others reported 55 hummingbirds migrating through.  See Table for later reports from Lighthouse Point.

9/11      Indications are from CT that most adult males have left. For instance, on 9/11 Don Morgan reported from Coventry on ct-birds that he had 1 adult male and three juvenile males  in his yard in August, but had not seen any of them for at least a week. Also on 9/11, Brian Webster reported from Stratford that he had hummers, but no adult males, in his yard. 

New England Hummers Home

page updated 11-18-2009