[EBB Sightings] Allen's Hummingbird Fledgling in Orinda

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Hi E. B. Birders,
   
  This past Saturday morning, on a Golden Gate Audubon trip to the Orinda Connector trail, six of us saw a fledgling Allen's Hummingbird.  Judy Sierra had the good fortune to see the adult female feeding the young.  We waited for a repeat performance, but it never came, even though the female perched nearby, so we moved on.
   
  The young bird's bill was smaller than the adult's by about half, the body feathers were puffed up, and the fledgling had that typical lethargic look of a baby bird. The primaries looked very dark brown, and the left wing tip had an odd, slightly crumbled look.
   
  I kept wondering how the adult female protected her young from the sleet storm that hammered the area the night before.  Since we found the fledgling perched on top of the blackberry brambles beneath Monterey pines, maybe this sheltered habitat afforded just enough protection.
   
  March 11 is the earliest date I've personally observed a fledgling Allen's Hummingbird in the East Bay.  I'd be most interested in hearing about earlier dates.
   
  All the Best Birding,
   
  Denise Wight
  Moraga, CA

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 this sheltered habitat afforded just enough protection.  
 
  
March 11 is the earliest date I've personally observed a fledgling Allen's Hummingbird in the East Bay.  I'd be most interested in hearing about earlier dates.
  
 
  
All the Best Birding,
  
 
  
Denise Wight
  
Moraga, CA
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