Costa's Hummingbird

[cwjury]

Hi Everyone

I just spent a couple of hours at a customers house in Abbotsford. I can confirm we have a male Costa's Hummingbird feeding at their feeders. I saw it as close as 3 '. Beautiful purple crown with the purple flared throat feathers. As well they have 2 male rufous/ 3 female rufous and male anna's.

They have agreed to allow some birders to come to their house. They are a retired couple so we do not want to over run them. You can contact me by e-mail [e-mail] or phone me at my chilliwack store tommorow- 604-792-1239. I will give out their phone # when you call- but please do not advertise their # on the birding sights.

Good Birding
Cliff Jury
Backyard Birding Stores
Abbotsford & Chilliwack

[Gord]

Cliff, excellent verification!

I will leave it to your discretion and other birders good sense to be respectful of their generous offer!

I would be keen to have a boo as Ive never seen one before! ;D

[Gord]

After getting permission to stop in for a look at the Costa's, I stopped by at lunchtime to try my luck.

As I was shaking hands with the property owners about 3 feet away from a hummingbird feeder I saw the far hummingbird feeder getting attention from a hummingbird Ive never seen before! A Rufous Hummer chased the Costa's right to the feeder the three of us were standing next to!! After bumbling around getting the camera out I managed this one. WOW is all I can say about that colour.



I settled in and was able to see him several times. Only once was I able to track him from the feeder to where he perched.






At one point, he got in a heated battle with a Rufous Hummingbird female. What an amazing sound he made! A really scratchy, almost like fingernails on a blackboard sound. I wish this photo was in focus. Look how he has his throat feathers (gorget) flared!



This yard the Costa's is coming is very nice and birdy. A Hermit Thrush came by at one point. Lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. A flash of bright yellow caught my eye. I had MacGillvray's Warbler in mind for half a second until I caught sight of the entire bird. A male Nashville Warbler! What a beautiful sight. I scampered off, Costa's Hummingbird forgotten (briefly) in hopes of a photo. No luck on the photo. I came back to my tripod to meet Len and Diane. They were quickly rewarded with seeing the Costa's as well almost the same way I was greeted to the yard.







We then saw a Pine Sisken collecting fluff from a cattail that was put up for bird's nesting material. I dont know if Ive ever seen evidence of them breeding around here at all. Len didnt think so either and was keen to make note of it for the Breeding Bird Atlas.





Up in a nearby snag we saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker and this Northern Flicker who seemed to be finishing off a nest cavity by tossing wood chips out.



It was time for me to go, but before, finally an Anna's Hummingbird cooperated the best that they had the time I was there.




Not a bad way to spend lunch!! Thanks very much to the people who allowed us to see their special guest and beautiful yard!

[oldfulica]

WOW!!! Excellent Gord. I could not get a decent shot although I tried for 2 hours. The Nashville Warbler returned after you left but I couldn't find the hermit Thrush.

[cwjury]

Hey Gord- Great shots- I'm glad the costa's showed up right away for you and Len. What a great yard they have. If you get a chance I would love some of the photos for the stores.

Thanks
Cliff
Backyard Birding Stores

[tmanson]

Hi all: Murray Brown, and I were fortunate to see the Costa's Humminbird today at the feeders in Abbotsford; ( as late as 2:30 p.m. ). A big thanks to the home owners for allowing us into their beautiful backyard, and to Cliff of Backyard Birding Stores, for acting as a go-between, so that we had a chance to see this gorgeous bird.
Gord, your shots were so beautiful, I left my camera at home.
Murray saw the Hermit Thrush reported from the same location, but neither of us saw the Nashville Warbler. With this great location, I would say almost anything could show up. Other birds seen include Anna's and Rufous Hummingbirds, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Spotted Towhee, and Alaskan Song Sparrow. The owner reported seeing a Calliope Hummingbird, as well, this morning, but this bird did not re-appear while we were there.
I called Cliff, after seeing the bird, to thank him, and so that he could pass the information along to his customers. He indicated he had phoned the sighting into the Vancouver Rare Bird Alert. I still don't see this posting, so I talked to Cliff about reporting the bird on bcvanbirds. He agreed that I would do this, and continue to list his name, and store phone number, so that there can be some control of the number of visitors in the course of the day. The feeders are located in the backyard of the owners' property, so you have to " invade " their property to see the bird. They are very generous, friendly, and accomodating, but I am sure don't want to be overrun with " crazy " birders like me.
Cheers, Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.

[butterfly]

Well done on the photos of the stunning Costa's Hummingbird and the other photos as well. The owners of the property are indeed very, very nice to allow people to visit. They seem to be very nice to the bird population as well. The birds know good people when they find them.
Thanks for posting the photos!

[Wetlander]

Gord: your first shot is incredible!!!
What a beauty.

[b1schmor]

Hello birders,

the Costas Hummingbird was still present as of 11:30 on May 5. Carolynn and I went last night to see the bird but missed out for the second time. We heard a different hummingbird as it zoomed by but could not lay eyes on it. There were others there and one of the birders had seen the bird in the morning, but wanted a more satifying look which never materialized. There is a Rufous Hummingbird that is keeping very strict watch over all of the feeders. He hardly lets the Rufous females drink from the feeders. The best advice I heard from the very gracious owners was to be at the feeders in the early morning. This seems to be the best chance of getting a half decent look now with the territorial Rufous on the watch.

Brent Schmor
Harrison Mills

[onejay]

What a beautiful bird. I can not help wishing the wind will blow one this way...(To my yard of course..
onejay

[cwjury]

Hi Everyone- Just to let you know that I talked to the owners and the costa hummingbird was not seen today. Looks like the last sighting was yesterday morning. If it shows again I will post.

Thanks
Cliff Jury
Backyard Birding