ML303049061

Âge et sexe

Mâle adulte - 1

Détails de l'observation

What an incredible bird! Flawless adult male found and reported last night on eBird by Victoria Cross, and the bird continued this morning to the thrill of what would become dozens of birders. When I arrived around 7:45am, Bart Wickel, Steve Hampton, and Tim Mangum were already present and had just seen the bird in front of 315 Antioch Dr. Shortly thereafter we heard the bird calling, watched it fly out from the backyard of 319 Antioch and sit in the bare tree in front of 315 Antioch. It sat in the tree, and began singing. Other birders continued to arrive and I waited eventually seeing the about a half-dozen times, and heard it calling and singing regularly. It frequented two feeders in the backyard of 319 Antioch, and the homeowners were kind enough to let birders into their yard to view this hummingbird (access details have been posted by others on eBird and on CVBirds). Having already seen the bird I waited in front of 315 Antioch and the bird made multiple more appearances in the bare tree out front, and at one point flew down the street and visited some flowers. Finally it flew back into the bare tree just as the sun came out and gave amazing views and photos. This was a smallish hummingbird, with a bright lime-green back and head, teal underparts with a blue throat, a dark tail washed with teal iridescence, and a bicolored bill that was bright red at the base and black at the tip, with a broad base which was very apparent when seen from below. It was very vocal, calling frequently. Its call was similar to that of a RCKI, but much more "electric" sounding, more rapid, staccato, and clicky. It also sang occasionally, a whistled song which was fairly high-pitched and quite soft. It was often easiest to detect by its call. In flight the Broad-billed had a different feel than the Anna's in the neighborhood, as its flight was more direct, zipping from one place to the next. It did not hold still for long except when it perched in the bare tree to preen or sing. At one point it chased a YRWA from its tree, so it is somewhat territorial. This is an incredible record, a first for Yolo County, and either the first or second for the Central Valley. When I left there were already 20-30 birders and surely more were on their way. A truly stunning bird, and a lifer for me! Photos and a recording attached.

Informations techniques

Modèle

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lentille

EF400mm f/5.6L USM

ISO

250

Longueur focale

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Vitesse d'obturation

1/640 sec

Dimensions

1557 pixels x 1112 pixels

Taille originale du fichier

1004.23 KB