No one enjoys hummingbirds any more than Linda Armstead of Washington Hill Road, north of Hurricane. Every spring, Linda fills a feeder with sugar water and has it waiting for early arrivals.

On Friday, April 15th, her first hummingbird of 2022 arrived. Linda reports, “At 6:54 pm, I heard a little buzz and looked at the feeder and there was a little bird sipping at my delicatessen!” Her excitement was such that her mouth flew open and chills ran up and down her legs.

Linda is always excited for the first hummingbird sighting of the year. Her earliest sighting ever was on April 8, 1993. The latest arrival date was April 25, 2020.

Surprisingly, the hummers are not influenced by fluctuations in temperatures or weather. Linda reports that the ground was totally covered with snow on one occasion.

This year’s April 15 date is close to the historical average at the Armstead residence.

Linda documented Friday’s arrival on video. She says that the little bird sat for a good while sipping, and that after it left, another one came. She is uncertain if it is the same bird or a different one.