Broad-billed Hummingbird; © JoAnne Fillatti

The Broad-billed Hummingbird recently found in Davis has given hundreds of people great pleasure.  This first county record (and perhaps even first Central Valley record) was all thanks to Victoria Cross and Thomas Gatewood, who first observed the bird in their backyard on January 29th.  They knew it wasn’t an Anna’s, but being new birders, they listed it on eBird simply as “hummingbird sp.”  Fortunately, a sharp-eyed birder noticed the listing, and the rest is history. 

Victoria and Thomas have had a non-stop parade of people through their backyard. They have been amazingly gracious about it, and the hummingbird has been quite the poser.  He is quite far north of his normal range (principally Mexico) and may disappear at any time. 

Steve Hampton, of course, was one of the first people to confirm the presence of the bird and share the news with the rest of us.  Sadly for local birders, Steve just shared some other news–he and his family are pulling up stakes and moving to Port Townsend, Washington in March.  He has written our Recent Sightings column and been the organizer and compiler of the YAS Christmas Bird Count for 20 years.  We will greatly miss Steve with all his talent and enthusiasm, and we wish him well in his next adventure.

Local birding phenom Emmett Iverson has graciously agreed to take over Steve’s “Recent Sightings” duties beginning with the March newsletter.                                                                                                       

Ann Brice, YAS President