Over 4 days and 4 opportunities to shoot at The Pond, male Hooded Orioles were observed sharing feeders with the hummingbirds. Extremely shy, they would approach the feeders with caution after first landing in a nearby Mesquite that had not yet "leafed out". Hopping from branch to branch they proved to be a difficult subject to photograph except when they were on the feeders.
As things turned out I ended up staying another night - a long story but, with help from The Pond's owner Bill (thanks again!), I was able to get back on the road Sunday following a bonus shooting session in the morning. Not long after settling in to the blind the first of the males - I had seen as many as three in the area - came in for a drink. Mere moments after he left somebody different made an appearance and while this bird was still wary, made her way to the feeder quickly and stayed for much longer than the males had been.
I saw her 5 times before I had to leave and, until the last time, she would stay until one of the males drove her off (pretty rotten behavior for guys who will probably be wooing her soon). On that last visit she was left alone at the feeder for just short of 20 minutes, sipping up nectar the entire time. In relation to some species Hooded Orioles aren't long distance migrants but my guess is that this female had probably made the flight from Central America and was getting some much needed nourishment following her trip since she was spending so much time there. Had it not been for a little bad luck delaying my "migration", I would have never seen her.
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