Sharp-shinned Hawks and Hummingbirds

July 10, 2017.

First walk of the day was just after sunrise. Headed out to see the nesting Sharp-shinned Hawk and chicks. The forest was fairly alive with sounds- Nuthatch, Chickadee, and several empidonax sp. were seen and heard. At the end of the walk I observed a Raven attempting to take one of the chicks from the nest. The adult was not having anything to do with that. A short but aerobatic chase occurred and the corvid was repelled.

At home in the evening, the deck hummingbird feeders were very active. We have seen the occasional hummingbird since about May, however today was the first day we have begun to see hummingbirds in numbers reminiscent of past years. At least thirty sightings over the course of an hour and a half- all the way to near darkness. We had fighting and chattering and tail flaring. All of the individuals that I saw were Rufous Hummingbirds.