2011 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Vol. 3

Stretching.

Showing his colorful spots even in the shade.

Wonderful photos, Dave. Love the fully extended tongue.

Nanny, how good that you had your camera with you when your little lady visited.

What an experience to have one fly to your hand, Elphaba. Great shots.

Busy day here with them today. I saw 3 at one time. crazy. ha.

This was from a couple days ago.

Very cute Mrs Ed!

Good one Mrs. Ed!

Finally, one let me take a pic in morning sun. Not exactly the right angle, but I still like it.

As of yesterday all our resident adult males are gone and the females have taken over the feeders. This one is laying claim to the front porch feeders!

Good pix Elphy! I like it too. Marna, I've seen Sulphurs flitting about my nectar feeder. Can't seem to catch a pix of them 'tho. Y'all. Last Friday must have been a migratory day. I saw many hummingbirds that day. Then no more recurrent swamping like such. I do have a couple chasing each other around the garden. But that's it.

Nan, I'm trying to strain my eyes for the males, but I don't believe I've seen a-one today here.

It has been crazy here with the migration! Lots of chasing and all that.

It's so nice to know they're so active. I hope they're well equipped for the journey. By the way, I have set out several more feeders just for this purpose.

I put out feeders in 4 areas and there is a hummer staking out each one and lots of newcomers and fights going on. I've had mostly males so far. Even when I think it's a female, I end up seeing a spot on the throat.

I was taking a pic of one today (that I haven't downloaded yet) and while I was photographing him, another hummer chased a third hummer into the window I was photographing through. The one that I was photographing was as startled as I was. He didn't move. The other 2 flew off, so must have been OK.

This is the first time I've caught one in this position to see the buff color (female). At least that's what I've understood from Sibley's

Another.

Nice ones there Mrs. Ed. Elphy, can't wait to see yours.

Nice color capturing Mrs. Ed. I had a very golden buffy one fly up a few minutes ago. It even looked like it had some gold on its back, but it was chased off.

This is one of the pics I was taking yesterday when a second hummer chased a third into the window I was photographing through.

Another.

Almost got a 2-for. These two both perched on that trellis and didn't fight for a few seconds. By the time I was ready for the shot though one flew up and took off after the other.

Great photos Nanny, Mrs Ed and Elphaba.

Nice that every one is seeing some now....especially Mrs. Ed! I know my males had nice potbellies when they left to get them off on their long journey!

They girls and juvies are keeping the feeders very busy here...and like Elphaba I have some that can share for a few seconds but I am not quick enough to get a photo! lol

She is watching another hummer that is flying in around the feeders....

who you watching..

Nice shots everyone, Glad you are all seeing hummers. It's end of the season for me, they all left, to visit with you all, for a while. Keep snapping!

Still have a couple females hanging around...seen 4 at Sheldon's Marsh on Thursday. Nice shots all!!

Ooooh I once again have another swamp of hummingbirds outdoor! Only I couldn't get a decent pix to share. But, it's a joy to see many of them at one time. Many for me is about half a dozen at a time. Gotta bring out more fresh nectar.

Had a male show up yesterday....Lady on the front porch is not happy!

Yup, those 'ladies' are pretty agressive. Chased these handsome fellas all around. lol Sorry about the poor quality of the pix.

Love the pretty throat on that one Lily.
Nice ones Nanny!

I just watched the coolest interaction. An anole staked out the hummer feeder. The hummer didn't like it one bit. It flew all around him and looked like it pecked at him, but he didn't leave. The hummer did this several times finally the lizard straightened out like they do when they are about to jump. He jumped on the feeder, nabbed a bee and jumped off. The hummer came after him again as he was leaving.

Elphy, I think I may have a male staking out in the garden and not rushing off. I'm so glad he stays. For awhile anyway. What you've seen was priceless! At least now I know those anoles are harmless to the hummingbirds.

Just so we can take note on these little jewels' behaviors. The swamp ceases promptly as day ends. Came the next morning, all my males were gone. The weekend onto this morning, I've only seen two or 3 females in the garden. So the migration is in earnest. I'll take note this year when the females will leave my area.

Still some up here Kim. Juvies and females.

Same here..our guest male seems to have moved on.

Don't they always look away at just the wrong moment! His back is pretty though.

This was a horrible, dark pic, but lightened up to be kind of fun. This hummer was so tiny.

Love that pic. Elphy. Our temp. continues to drop. :((

I have a few new one passing through. Juvie and 2 females. They've been here now, for 4 days. Hope they stay a little while longer.

Three birds, one male and two females are duking it out in our backyard. Last night before the rains came pouring, they made a pact and shared the same feeder at the same time!!! It was a sight to behold.

An immature male taken at a friend's backyard near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

This message was edited Sep 20, 2011 9:16 PM

Sweet pic MajiA! Welcome to the forum!

Right now we have more Hummers than we've had all year. . . .they're everywhere and...except for very rare occasions...they refuse to share! It's crazy to watch. They're zooming all over the yard chasing each other. Many are juvies.

I just added another feeder way in the back yard so the "Gatekeepers" wouldn't try to take over that one too. That'll solve the problem, right?. . .Wrong! Now we have one more gatekeeper that claimed that feeder.

We'll probably add one more feeder in another corner of the yard, but I don't have enough feeders or hooks to give everybody their own private feeder!

I don't have many flowers blooming right now that the hummers like, but they love, love, love my "Purple Pygmy Agastache" which will be happily blooming until frost. I may have to do some more planting for late Summer/early Autumn Hummers.

Anybody else having an unusually high number of Hummers for this time of year??

Not here. Just a few at a time now.