a hummingbird nest?

Alas, I didn't see the hummingbird this morning and I'm no longer sure if what I saw yesterday was really a hummer on the nest. She was sitting behind a lichen-covered oak branch somewhat above eye level in an area where she had been seen several times before and in a manner that only her head and 'cocked' tail were visible, the body being obscured either by the branch or the sides of the nest. Exactly the way a hummingbird sitting on eggs or brooding her brood would look. She remained in that position for some time but was not seen yesterday evening or this morning. Do hummingbirds sometimes sit lengthwise instead of perching upright? Do they pretend to be brooding to fool would-be predators (presumably including me)? Or have the young already hatched and are waiting for mama to come back in when said potential predator (me) disappears?

If the last-named is the case, she would not be alone in her concern for her babies. For the past few days, a very angry Willet has been trying to chase me away as I approach the pond and then head down into the marsh. This bird not only shrieks (and, believe me, Willets are shriek specialists), but comes flying right at me. His dive-bombing tactic is so effective that, even though I know (or think I know) that he will veer off at the last second, I am still scared that he will hit me with his substantial beak.. He comes shrieking by so close that I can hear the whoosh of his wings.

I suspect that there must be a nest or, more likely, a young Willet or two hidden nearby. I have been hearing a repeated rhythmic call coming from the Spartina beds and I presume that it must be either a young Clapper Rail or, more likely, a young Willet.

Finally, leaving the Willet behind to savor his triumph, I reach the marsh corner where, yesterday, I saw an agitated male with a fat yellow worm in his beak. Today, he had an insect and he was just as reluctant to deliver it to his well-hidden offspring. His loud angry chips were echoed by a series of softer chips and, lo and behold, Mrs. Yellowthroat popped up very close to me but on the other side -- bright yellow throat and a white eyering but no black mask. I am certain that the male was the same bird as yesterday (Yellowthroat #2 was singing away further up the marsh) and the female was his mate. This was the first time this year that I saw a female Yellowthroat although she was obviously there all along. I have no doubt that, after remaining hidden for a couple of months, she was now willing to expose herself so dramatically in order to try and lure me away from her hidden young. I didn't take the bait at first. But when the male, perched on a dead branch opposite. gulped down the insect and then proceeded to wipe his beak on the branch, I realized that my presence was depriving the young of needed nourishment and decided to move on. Amazingly, the two adult Yellowthroats followed me right up the marsh to the invisible line that separated their domain from that of Yellowthroat #2 who promptly appeared high on a dead branch, singing loudly, to proclaim his territory while the others retreated.  

Eric Salzman