Rufous Hummingbird in Jenkintown, PA

1st Year male Rufous Hummingbird

           Sharon had plans to visit a friend in Bucks County so after dropping her off I decided to chase a couple birds in Bucks and Montgomery County. A recent report of a male Rufous Hummingbird in Jenkingtown caught my attention, so I called the property owner to get her permission and I was on my way. When I arrived at the home, I knocked on the door and the owner told me to walk around back and she would meet me there. As soon as I got in sight of the feeder, I saw this little speedy thingy fly away and I watched where it landed. I got the binos on it and there was the hummer. 

          After talking to the woman for a minute the bird came back to the feeder and I got to see the color on the bottom of the gorget. The bottom row of the gorget was all red and the rest was spotted with red. 

Not the best picture of a 1st year male Rufous Hummingbird

          After leaving the hummer, I headed back north to Peace Valley Park in Bucks County. My objective was the Red-headed Woodpecker and Greater White-fronted Goose. After searching for a while at Sailor's Point for the woodpecker, I gave up and moved to a different viewing area to look for the goose. Fortunately, I met up with Augie Mirabella the original discoverer of both birds. He told me that the goose was seen earlier at the other end of the lake but they have all dispersed to where I was standing now. But I had already scanned through the flock about three times and haven't found the goose yet. Then he told me that I was looking in the wrong area for the woodpecker. The Red-headed Woodpecker was on the opposite side of the lake. So since I was running out of time I choose to chase the woodpecker since they tend to stay relatively close to a given area. 

            I drove around to an area called Anglers Pier and walked into the woods and within five minutes I heard the bird calling and then was able to spot it in the treetops. It was an adult bird, but there was also suppose to be an immature hanging around. I managed to get some distant shots of the woodpecker but then had to leave for a lunch date. But it was a successful trip even though I missed the Greater White-fronted Goose. Maybe next time.

Distant shot of Red-headed Woodpecker