Two weeks ago in Red Rocks park  I observed a Ruby-crowned kinglet in a
rough imitation of a hummingbird, hovering briefly enough to touch its bill
to cones hanging from the branches of a hemlock tree.  Sibley describes this
behavior for this species and says they feed off small insects on the cones
and leaves of conifers.  A naturalist acquaintance who I described it to
called it "hover gleaning".

Yesterday in Red Rocks a Ruby-crowned kinglet was singing and a Hermit
thrush was not.

This morning, a female Rose-breasted grosbeak at my feeder.

Eric Lazarus

Burlington