2009 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Vol. 9

Wind chimes make a great watchtower.

Here on the MO-ARK line, we have 20-30 ruby throated hummers at dawn and dusk, with @ 10 at any given time during the day. It's hard to take an accurate count, with many resting in trees and working the flowers scattered around. Haven't seen a male in several weeks. We have five large feeders grouped together under an arbor, so it's difficult for a bully to keep others run off. If one is successful, I simply move that particular feeder a couple of feet away. Confuses the heck out of him/her! For those of you who aren't familiar with it, there's a great site where you can post your sightings for the week. It helps biologists with their data. I always check the site in the spring to help me know when to put my first feeder up. It's also a terrific tool for teachers.
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/

Hey Mima. Yup, we use that here too. None of us can wait to be able to put our "dot" on the map!

Nice pics Missy!!

Glad your still seeing a lot of them Mima!

Two here this afternoon and this one seems to be the chaser-offer. But you know, not too mean! Lets me get really close too.

Did not see any hummers this morning. Will look again after work.

We had a mature male this morning..don't know if it is the same that has been showing up for the past 3 days. This one has a shorter than normal bill.

This is the new boss at one of the feeders.

This is the first time I've seen one use the Mandavilla plant.

This one was really into scratching.

nuther...

last one.

Sweet little guys, Rose. I notice, they went after, the bloom had fallen of the Mandevilla. Easier to get at the nectar, still left on it. Had to bring my Mandevilla in the house, it's getting too cold at night for it now. Didn't want to lose it.
Didn't see mine today.

Thanks Burn...geez...how cold is it at your place? Hard to believe the cold weather is on it's way....seems like we were just watching for the first Hummers of the year!!

It kind of amazes me the different shades of "green" the RT's are.

dellrose, love that pic w the tongue sticking out!

Beautiful photos Rose!!

Thanks Missy and duc! We had a big storm just pass through and prior to the big bang there was about a dozen of the little ones loading up the tank!!

Rose, Those are amazing shots! I especially love the tongue shot!

Gorgeous shots Rose.

Great pics! I got a few of one yesterday that I need to download to the computer.

We have noticed that one of our regular groups here have the shorter beak and stouter body. The other group has the very long beak and long, lean body type.

Thanks for the nice comments! Still several here today...the storm must have brought them in and they have decided to stay and fight each other and generally entertain!! No sun today so no pics...darn!

Rainy and wet here today too, but I interrupted one at the feeder when I went out the front door!

My juvie male from yesterday....

They do look so grumpy...LOL!

Nice pics nanny!

I just wanted to clean and refill one of the feeders.

And you got an ear full, Frank!?! ;0)

It's to much eye makeup Marna, they just want to fool you, into thinking they're mean.

Oh...that is a funny one Frank!

That is a great capture, Frank! Love it.

Nanny, cute hummers!
Frank, that's definitely one photo that doesn't need an explanation. Cute!!

I haven't seen any here today but the biting bugs are so bad you can't be outside at all. :-(

None here either today. I had to empty the First Nature feeder because of bees getting into it.

My last hummer I saw was on Monday evening up on the birch. I keep one feeder up just in case. And yes Pelle the biting bugs in NJ have been terrible lately!

All of your hummers have finally come back to Texas! I've never had so many hummers at once. They are absolutely at war with each other over the feeders, and they are eating all my spiders. Weather hasn't been good for pictures although great for the drought. Here's a juvi male from a couple of days ago.

Nice one Elphaba!

awww...that is nice!

First one in a while for me.

This is a first for me...a male!

Second shot.

Those are great shots GP. I especially like the last one. I don't usually have males either, but this fall, I've had a ton!