WESTERN HUMMINGBIRDS VOL. 9

Coming in for a landing.

Another Rufous.

Caught this one at the right time. Sometimes when I'm out on the deck these birds just like to hover.

These birds are so hard to photograph, but when you get a decent shot, it's worth every minute spent on them.

Outstanding shots Duc!

Wonderous pics as always Duc. Will you dear ones in WA please shoo a couple hummers my way? Nothing at my feeder yet. Still a little early though.

Great flight shots, Duc. Thanks for the information on the 7D.

dahlia, no hummers here yet. I put out one feeder and will put out others when they are needed.

Rufous are very territorial, and so beautiful. Thanks to you all for sending along the pictures.

Donna

The Annas were still around the last little while. The Rufous have been here for the last couple of weeks. Fighting over the feeders. The last couple of days fewer of them. But still many around. Best time to see them is in the early evening. They have been sitting on the different bushes and the clothes line. mostly near the feeders.

I am now seeing hummer activity at both my front- and back-yard feeders. It seems like the male rufous who thinks he is king of the back feeder is the same one as in previous years. He chooses the same perch when resting. I am beginning to think that the migration is just more spotty this year because of the weather differences we have had.

Wonderful pics of those beautiful hummers duc! I'm still waiting, maybe they will show up today.

PNWMG twould be luvly to have some hummers my way (hint, hint point NE)

Dahlianut

Rarejem, my daughter, was over at our vacation house on the Potholes by Moses Lake last weekend. She put our feeder out and within a day had a calliope and a male rufous. There is HOPE!

YIPPEE!!!! Thanks PNWM

Pelle, here's just one of my Rufous hummers that shows a lot of green on his gorget. As he moves his head, it does get red though. Now I'll have to watch for one like that beautiful Ruby-throated you shared with us, though I doubt I'll ever see one.

He is a beauty Duc!!

That is a real beauty duc. I just realized that my hummer feeder may not be in a good spot any more as I now have 2 little native squirrels that spiderman down the shed wall right beside the feeder to drink from the bird bath below. Would the little squirrels scare off the hummers? They are the size of chipmunks.

Dahlianut, I'd probably move them. The hummers are brave, but the squirrels would cause them to move away. Have you got a rock or two in your birdbath for the hummers to sit on while they enjoy the water? My birds love to bathe each morning and throughout the days when it's warm.

i agree with duc, They would be too wary of the squirrels.

ok have to find another spot. Would they be ok near the finches and redpolls do you think?

I keep one of my feeders right under some birdhouses and the swallows and orioles have landed on the pole holding the feeder and even on the feeder. The hummers will sometimes fly a short distance away, then quickly return and drink.

I'd suggest you keep moving it a short distance at a time until you're happy with the results.

This message was edited Apr 23, 2010 2:20 PM

Thanks duc. I think I have a brilliant idea ^_^ I will post a pic.

Now for my brilliant idea ^_^ This was where my hummer feeder was....

This is where my feeder is now. It is only 14 dahliafeets (1 dahliafeet=10" so why use that other guys feets?) from the open feeder though so I'm going to move the open feeder a little farther away. This was where I had a suet cage hanging which is being used right now by the northern flickers and downy woodpeckers. As they are bigger birds the suet feeder can be moved without issue (which I will do tomorrow). Note that I have put the giant red bow that I wear on my head for The Wakening of the Dahlias Festival and other festive occasions on the top of the arbour to show the hummers where to go when they arrive. Oh course the robins will now poop on the giant red bow cuz they poop on anything I change cuz that is the robin way but I will wash my bow. I'm poofing with pride cuz I think I have reworked my small bird habitat to everyone's benefit (except the bow's which will get pooped on).

Beautiful blooms in your yard dahlia! Looks like a good place for the feeder.

O you can't tell from that pic where it is, can you? It is about 7 feet off the ground here. oops garden cleanup bag in the pic. You can see the open feeder in this pic too so you can why I have to move it a bit.

Thank Pell. That pic was from early June. I am still crispy and that honeysuckle is just beginning to leaf out now. I'm actually thinking of moving the bird bath to the back of the shed and moving the hummer feeder back to that spot next summer cuz it was a good spot for it.

Great job Dahlia! I sure love that photo with the honeysuckle and the shed. This new spot looks cute with your bow. I think the hummers will find the feeder just fine.

Such beautiful shots of the Hummers! Duc...your inflight shots are awesome and inspiring!!

Dahlia...what a gorgeous place you have and I'm sure the Hummers will love it!!

Bath time early this morning. I took these through the door window so they're not the best.

This female Anna's likes to "lean in" toward the water while others prefer just standing in the center of the sprays.

She'd fly to a branch that I have sitting in a potted plant and get a little sun, then it was back to the water.

Had to shake the drops off here.

Aww those pics are so cute duc!!

They are darling Duc...just precious!

Very cute photos duc!

WOOHOO!!!! A handsome male Rufous finally showed up this afternoon at my feeder!

Congratulations Margaret!!!

Yahoo!! Congratulations on the new visitor! I'd be willing to bet his female friend will be at your feeder soon too!

Female Anna's