ML634771906

Observation details

I first saw a smaller hummingbird come in to feed on the hummingbird sage to the right (when viewed from the bench) of the large grevillea around 7 pm. It was quickly chased off by an Anna's. It returned a while later, and I saw that it was a green backed hummingbird with a patch of pollen on its head. I stupidly assumed it was one of the several female Anna's that had pollen on their heads from feeding on the sage and ignored it. It returned yet again after a few minutes, and this time I noticed that it had buffy flanks, and I realized it was a selasphorus species and probably a calliope. I studied it for about a minute as it fed on the sage before it was chased off by an Anna's. I anxiously waited for it to return, and I was beginning to gaslight myself that it really was just an Anna's when it returned for the fourth time in the same patch. I saw that it was a smaller hummingbird with buffy flanks, green back and a short dark tail. It fed quietly and undisturbed for about 3 minutes before flying off to roost in an oak where I couldn't refind it. Dipped on this bird at Mount Diablo and at Tom's house and also 90% sure I had one at Putah Creek this morning, but the view was too brief to be sure. A poetic lifer.