2010 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Vol. 2

Hi everyone,
The comments about seeing hummers & flowers together reminded me of my favorite Calendar (I buy one every year).

It's a "Lang" calendar called "SONGBIRDS" & features the artwork of Susan Bourdet from paintings she has done. The pictures are beautiful (different every year) & go along with the seasons so they're perfectly timed for when many of us will see various birds.

I usually find it at places where they have a big assortment of Lang Calendars. Those Seasonal Calendar stores in the malls usually have them as well as some bookstores. You can probably also buy them online.

If I can do it with my little snapshot camera, I'll attempt to take a couple of pictures of pages & upload them.

Another thing that makes this calendar so unique, is the fact that the pictures are from paintings rather than photographs.

Enjoying all the nice pics..that is a great one ilflowers. I need to check that honey suckle out. I have none here. I need something small. Hopefully someday I will get some pics. I lamost got one on friday....granny was to slow on the shutter button! LOL

2 more shots

last

Very cute shots!

Do you all bring in your feeders when it rains?

I leave mine out no-matter, the holes are small so it shouldn't take on too much water, and my hummers last year fed while it rained.

I leave my feeders out, too.

I've checked the sugar water level in some of them after heavy rains & it hasn't looked any different. Like Burd_Fotos, I also have found the hummers will feed during rains.

I actually think they sometimes enjoy flying through the rain if it's not really heavy. Their way of bathing.

Thanks! I have to bring the one in at night anyway because of the raccoons. But The other two I can leave out but had been bringing them in when it rains. Which right now is everyday so was wondering.

I love the honeysuckle . I have a pink and white one someone gave to me years ago.
It has been so cold that it has not bloomed yet. I am going to get one of the Major Wheeler varitys for my hummers. They have to love the long red tubers.

I leave my feeders out all the time. In the early spring I put 1 cup sugar to three cups of water. I can only imagine that they need the extra boost after that long journey. So if mine get a little water in them it sure wouldn't hurt.

Love the photos everyone, keep them coming

Amy

Hi,
Have many of you had an unusual Spring this year?

Our Spring has been very odd & has affected everything from the bloom time on my bulbs to the arrival of the Hummers & other birds that normally arrive about the same time.

It started out very warm, early, so my mid-spring bulbs started blooming right away. Then it turned cold & has flip-flopped all Spring. We've also had a ton of rain.

Our Hummers arrived much later than normal even though Hummingbirds.net showed them moving North very early. But the first males were just passing through & after a couple of sightings I barely saw any until a few days ago. Now I have at least a couple of males coming pretty steadily (no females yet).

What's really interesting, though, is that our Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks usually show up when the hummers do & although I saw a female almost a week ago, I just saw the first male a couple of days ago.

Then there's the Indigo Buntings that also arrive around the same time. Haven't seen any yet, but I'm still looking.

Our weather has flip flopped a lot but not where it's very cold.

I leave my feeders up all the time too. Even though I have no hummingbirds. LOL.

Here's my Dropmore Scarlet Honeysucke from this morning (dark and dreary). The flowers seem so small compared to that Major wheeler. Guess I'll have to get one of those too!. :D

I just had a mature male at the feeder but I was sitting too close and he took off.

Mrs_Ed - Are your hummers late this year?
When do they normally arrive most years.

I'm in Illinois, east of you, and mine are extremely late, but I'm finally starting to see some males periodically during the day.

Congrats Burd...nice shots of your handsome guy!

I sure hope all the Honeysuckle that I've planted does well in the future years...I love the looks of it!

Pelle...I'm sure your little one will be back!

Nanny..I always leave mine out in the rain also...of course the ones on the porch are under cover. This is what it looked like last night as it was getting dark. Had to use a flash but hopefully you can see how they swarm in the early morning and late evening.

Wow Rose that is incredible! How many do you think you have now?

Gosh Pelle...it's hard to say. Each feeder will hold 10 birds and several of the feeders will often be full. I would guesstamate at least 60 at swarming time. During the day there are probably a few dozen that I can see. It's crazy isn't it?!! The Orioles are starting to come in now and are challenging the Hummers for the feeders.

Sadly Nuts, I don't get hummingbirds usually until the fall migration. I am trying to rectify that. I have tons of HB plants. It's a mystery.

Rose AKA Queen of Hummingbirds!!!! What a mesmerizing sight! I love, love, love to be near by to see this in person! Whoaaaaaa!!!!

Mrs_Ed - Sorry to hear that, but try to be patient & enjoy the pics. You never know, one of these days one might show up & see all those hummer plants & never want to leave. In the meantime it gives you something to really look forward to in Autumn.

Rose - That is simply an AWESOME sight!! Any of us that wonder where our Hummers are now know - They're all at Rose's house!

LOL Rose, that probably means you have about 240 around.

Thank Nuts. Yes, they ARE all at Rose's house.

I'll be okay. Besides, what would a season be like with out me whining, right guys?

BUT, I have the evasive Wendy's Wish Salvia to try and lure them in. Last year I had one in July! lol.

I have an idea for a new strategy that might work on any hummers that can read.

I'm thinking about a sign on my roof that says, "WELCOME HUMMERS - FREE FOOD - NO WAITING!"

Oh, well Rose already has the neon light in the shape of an arrow on her roof! haha


I'm considering painting a big hibiscus on the roof.

Here is one Mrs_Ed.

Ha. Yah!!! sigh. Probably STILL could not get the stinkers to come here.

Beautiful Lily_love!

Are those perennial in your zone?

N.A.N. I wished, but no. I haul those big 'ole pot back and forth every Fall and Spring. lol. They're getting really big and heavy. No hummers here this past weekend either.

The rainy weather and busy weekend kept me from seeing much the last couple of days, but tonight I had a nice surprise of my first male ruby on my newest feeder. I didn't have the camera and too bad, because he didn't scare off too quickly. Unfortunately for him, I think a female has claimed this feeder and it is in a nice tree where she can hide and ambush! I believe I have two females and a male now. It was too dark to try for good pictures. I do think they like the tree and squirrel baffle as an umbrella! One could only dream that a nest will be made nearby. Now the trick is to keep the raccoons at bay.

Mrs. Ed and Nuts, I will buy a red car for our trip to Missouri and see if I can "steal back" some hummers from Rose - LOL. Maybe a few feeders strapped on the roof will do the trick!!

ha. there's a plan.

ilflowers, if that plan works. Please send some my way. I saw one briefly today. It was very skittish didn't stay very long.

ooooohhhh Bird luvly pics. Me too about the fall migration thing Mrs Ed. Although I did have a scout male Anna at my feeder today ^_^ this was a first. We shall all just have to have a fall migration party. I will bring chocolate ^_^

Let's. ^_^

okay, I wasn't going to post my cruddy pictures from tonight, but upon further inspection I have to see if anyone else thinks this female may be pregnant?

This message was edited May 17, 2010 7:59 PM

I have absolutely NO idea but I'm wishing so.

ilflowers;,,

Here is another idea you might try.. haa!!!

nice one uncle!

LOL, Good one!