[obol] 1st female rufous hummer of season and kinglet/vireo id revisited

[Linda Fink]

Is anyone keeping track of hummer returns this year? Our first female 
arrived yesterday, March 18, at the feeder.

In another matter: saw a little kinglet/vireo while I was fighting back 
the brush along the driveway (no binocs). By its behavior -- sitting 
still for several seconds, only occasionally flicking its wings -- I 
decided it must be, according to the tips I've received, a Hutton's 
Vireo. Until it flashed a bright red cap. So I went back to the house 
for my binocs and watched several more -- have any of you really seen 
yellow feet on kinglets other than in a mist net?? You must have way 
better eyes than mine. Even at close range, with binocs, feet and legs 
all look the same color to me. There were quite a few kinglets darting 
about, trying to out-flash the others with their red caps -- I've never 
seen such dramatic displays on kinglets before -- but no yellow feet. 
(Also in the mix were 2 flavors of chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, 
and golden-crowned kinglets.)

Linda Fink, near Grand Ronde but in Yamhill, not Polk, Co.