OUT

This handsome adult male was coming to a feeder at the home of Susan Cowan in Plaistow. First reported on NH Birds by Mike McDermott of Wild Birds Unlimited in Plaistow, it was subsequently seen by several birders, including Denny Abbott, Davis Finch, Terry Bronson and Steve Mirick. The bird was not seen on Nov. 12, and may have left.

Anthony Hill banded this bird on Oct. 31, after banding the Calliope, below. (busy day!) Anthony wrote on NHBirds that the Rufous "appeared robust and healthy, with a good deposit of fat (migration fuel). I'm happy to hear that it's been returning to the feeder since then and that others have had the opportunity to view this elegant creature. I'm very grateful to the homeowners for permission to band the bird on their property."
Len Medlock posted a photo of the bird with its new band at

This hatching-year male was first seen on Oct. 23 in the yard of Leslie Clapp, who took the absolutely lovely photograph below (as well as others). Identification was confirmed by Peter Vickery and Louis Bevier. On Oct 28, Leslie reported that the little bird had settled into a regular routine --

--it feeds every 10 minutes or so at one of 2 nectar feeders then goes and rests in the tops of the apple trees 40' away OR hangs out in the crabapples twice as far away, down in the branches and preens heavily. It didn't eat from the feeders for a couple of days then we got some heavy frosts which killed all flowers and it found the sugar water on Sunday [10/26] I believe.

The Blue Hill Calliope was banded by Anthony Hill on Friday morning, Oct. 31. Leslie Clapp wrote that the bird " had a nice layer of fat on the chest which was encouraging. He fed for the rest of the day and early Saturday. He was last seen at 9:10 on Nov. 1 at the feeder then flew high up over the trees and headed west which he hadn't done before. That was the last sighting. He was here in the yard for 9 days."

This female or juvenile bird showed up for two days at the feeder of Mark W. Rowden, who documented it in a series of photographs. Several experts viewing the photos believe it was definitely a Selasphorus spp. The bird was not seen after Oct. 8, so site visits by other birders were not possible.

6. Middle Haddam, CT Rufous Hummingbird Sept 20-Oct 9, 2008 ; still there circa. 10/23.

Paul and Anne Rapo reported that a Rufous Hummingbird had been visiting their feeder in Middle Haddam over this time period, often on a daily basis. Mark Szantyr sent along this and several other gorgeous photos of this lovely adult male Rufous, taken on 10-8-08:

The beautiful adult male Rufous below visited Anne Middleton's feeder in South Yarmouth several times late in the afternoon of September 8, and again on the 9th from 6:15 to 7:30 am, after which it departed not to be seen again. Photos by Anne Middleton.

On August 22^nd through Aug 24^th Kim Pribble and her husband observed a mature male Rufous Hummingbird frequenting their hummingbird feeders at their home on Franklin Pierce Lake in Antrim, NH. They did not have their camera with them, but they observed the hummer for a very long time at close range (within 10 ft) over the course of those days, and are pretty certain of their identification. When they went back to their lake home the following weekend the bird was no longer there.

3. East Dennis, MA Broad-billed Hummingbird August 20? - August 24 through ..at least Nov. 7.....

As Jeremiah Trimble and others reported on 'massbird,' this adult male Broad-billed Hummingbird was banded on August 23 by bander Sue Finnegan. It had been coming to a feeder at the home of Ron and Marj Murphy in East Dennis, and was seen by many observers. This is a first state record for this species. [Is this bird the the same as the one seen in CT on Aug. 13? What are the chances of there being TWO Broad-billed Hummers in New England? And how/why is this species-- normally seen only in Mexico and extreme southern Arizona/New Mexico-- here ? Broad-billeds have been banded as "winter hummers" in southeastern U.S., and may be attempting to expand their range. ] In connection with this bird, a discussion took place on 'massbird' on the scientific merit of bird banding and what we might and might not learn from it. As banding data accumulates, the migratory patterns of vagrant hummingbirds should be greatly clarified.

The bird was not seen for a day or two after the banding, but then returned and was seen almost daily up to at least Oct 6. It was confirmed that the bird is molting, and may not leave until molt is finished.

The photo below was taken by Sandra McGibbon, friend of the Murphy's, who reported that the bird had been around for "several days" before the banding on August 23. Thanks for the photo, Sandra!

CT had its first state record of a Broad-billed Hummingbird at a feeder for one evening on August 13, 2008. It was seen only by the homeowner, Kathleen Seddon and photographed by her daughter, Samantha Seddon. Amazing!

An adult male Calliope was seen at a yard feeder in Deerfield, MA. Rob Ranney-Blake took the wonderful photo series below. The bird stayed for less than 24 hours, and was seen by at least one observer, Tom Gagnon. It left before it could be banded. As Rob puts it, the bird " arrived late for supper on the first, stayed for a long breakfast on the second, and was gone before lunch." Besides the feeder, he also sipped at red honeysuckle, sweet pepperbush, and butterfly bush. What a beautiful bird!

Note: the first and last sighting dates listed here are only those known to New England Hummers. Different sighting dates may well be reported elsewhere.