Category: Birding

I birded Gillam Park in southeast Little Rock Saturday morning. I counted 36 species of birds including the Kentucky Warbler below.  He was cooperative probably because he was in his secret place.  Other birds weren’t as cooperative and I had to settle for views with binoculars only.  Also seen were an Eight-spotted Forester,  a dew covered Eastern-tailed Blue and many Horace’s Duskywings (unless they were Juvenal’s Duskywings).  Other good birds were Little Blue Heron, Chimney Swift, Ovenbird, Blue-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Purple Finch.

I was doing my first mowing of the year and thankfully I had it set as high as it would go (grass was tall in a few places, wet everywhere) because i did not see this little guy until he disappeared under the mower.  Luckily he reemerged unscathed but vary wary of me.  I pondered the identification and finally asked Jeremy Chamberlain.

This Rufous Hummingbird has been hanging out at a friend’s house all winter.  He survived some brutal weather and was counted on a CBC and a GBBC but can he survive the return of “Atilla the Hum” in a few weeks?  I certainly hope so. Click image for a larger view.