I began my birding day with a trip around March’s Point to see what might be out. I first found this juvenile gull working on fish leftovers.

I later found this adult in the same area working to down a piece of fish.

I also encountered this lone Black Oystercatcher feeding among the rocks on the beach. In this photo you can see the bird has what I believe to be a limpet, reputedly one of the bird’s main food sources. While oystercatchers are not uncommon in the greater area, I have found them on March Point only rarely.

After my tour of March Point it was back to the yard, and in mid-afternoon I was surprised to look up and see my first Rufous hummingbird of the season (a male) at one of my feeders! I knew the arrival of the first Rufous was immanent but I thought it would be another week or so. The bird made several trips to and from the yard, repeatedly disappearing in one direction and reappearing from another, keeping me on my toes! I was frustrated in not being able to obtain a photo but the bird finally hovered near the feeder and allowed me to obtain several good photos.

At the end of my day I had a Ruby-crowned kinglet visit the watercourse. If I can’t see that the kinglet (of either species) is a male, I’ve given up labeling them as females due to the males’ success at hiding their identifying sexual feature. (Those of you who are birders will understand!)