June 24, 2004
This morning the riparian paradise drew a thrasher and a pyrrhuloxia. But more important and exciting is that yesterday late afternoon I observed a beautiful male Costa’s sipping from one of the hum feeders near the pond. I have actually expected this, as Costa’s are primarily desert birds, and I very seldom saw them at the old house. Their gorget is an amazing deep amethyst color. They are very tiny birds—I’d say about the same size as Black chins.

This guy was primarily hanging out in the Texas ranger by the porch, with occasional forays elsewhere—maybe to the tube feeder in the olive tree. I did not see him defend the feeder; in fact, I didn’t see any other hummers art all. I’m going to have to give some thought to plantings to attract more of them. In the riparian area, I guess, which is going to have to be set up with a watering system.