Rufous Hummingbird, Coal Creek Canyon, Boulder, CO

[Adam Jack]

Interesting day. I get home to a distinctive sound in the yard, but I am unable to believe it (since I don't expect Rufous until July.) That said, a loud, buzzing, rufous hummer at the feeder. Still trying to get a good photo, 'cos it is skittish and I don't want to distract it from eating, but I've seen it clearly.

Interesting day 'cos while standing outside (shivering) I see what appears to be a Spotted Towhee. I've never seen one of those at this residence (at an altitude of 7800 feet) in the 20 years I've lived here.

regards

Adam
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Adam R. B. Jack
http://www.neukadye.com

[Joe Roller]

That's remarkable, Adam! 

Thanks for your report of this EARLY Rufous Hummingbird -aka "The Coppertone Devil" for its color and pugnacious behavior.

In a quick search of the eBird database, the ONLY other April Rufous Hummer records were

from a private ranch in Prowers County, and those were in the last three days of April! So Adam's bird is the earliest CO eBird record ever.

The RUHU, a classic midsummer, early fall, southbound migrant is RARE in springtime Colorado, with only two previous eBird

records ever in Colorado for the entire month of May! 

Although some birders don't seem to know Jack, Adam knows hummingbirds. Many will fondly recall Adam Jack welcoming scads (that's a scientific term) 

of eager birders in October and  November, 2014, to view a Magnificent Hummingbird at his feeder in Coal Creek Canyon, Jefferson County. 

Colorado Field Ornithologists chose to honor Adam (and his patient wife) with its "Homeowner Appreciation Award," presented 

on the rare occasion when a birder goes well out of the way to host birders on private property.

Although one swallow does not a summer make, such an early hummer is not hard to swallow. After all, "birds fly." and some just can't wait for summer.

Joe Roller, 

Denver

 

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[Adam Jack]

Despite frost on the deck and 34 degree temperatures the Rufous Hummingbird showed up at 06:15, and has visited a few brief times since. Still elusive, and hard to photograph in the lower light, but I have one lucky (somewhat useful) shot. 

   https://goo.gl/photos/KJvA7NEwFBh6tGRX7

I didn't want to try too hard to get a photograph, thinking this bird has more important things to be doing like getting fed and getting warmed up. If it comes back later in the day I'll try again.