I saw two ruby throated hummers on my red hunisuckle today. First ones this year. Lou
The ruby throated hummingbirds are on the move!
Saw a female - and then the male - great that they are back. They are wary yet, but will calm down and let me take pictures at 'em later.
se_eds~
You must understand how far they had to fly. Have empathy ! They're just getting their "ground" legs.
Se_eds .. so glad you've finally spyballed the lil flyin' jewels!! ...
That'd be .. 'over-land' laygs .. wouldn't it -?- .. (*hee*)
- Magpye
I've seen mine a few times, but I can hardly wait until I see it everyday like I did last year.
Same here, Jennifer.
Who stole my hummers?? I have only seen one, once. :(
I'm not seeing many either.
Last Spring I was given a very pretty hummingbird feeder. I put it up just outside my bedroom window and was excited to see the hummers come around, but they seemed confused. They hovered around the globe that held the water but didn't take notice of the red tip to feed from. I finally took it down, turned that globe into a garden ornament. Inspired by Magpye's and other's many pictures of visitors to another type of feeder, I bought one of those the other day.
Is it too late to put it up? Do we just put these up during the migration seasons back & forth? I'm new to hummer watching, pardon my ignorance. :-)
I did see two hummers making the rounds among my plants about three or four weeks ago.
Not too late and leave them out for the entire season.
maggie~
Build it and they will come. They're pretty smart. Good luck !
Thanks!
I had hummers for about a week, then, I've not seen them for several days. Wonder what's going on? I have 8 feeders, all fresh. The neighbors have out feeders also, think they prefer one over the other?
Dunno, wow, nah. ;)
John
It is better to hang the feeder in full sun, shade... ?
Where can I find the recipe for the nectar?
Thanks.
Shade.
Howdy maggiemoo ..
I've found, that most always, the preference is shade. For it serves to keep the thirst-quenchin' hummer-ade a bit cooler, and extends the 'shelf' life, a wee bit too! Besides, you can see (and hear them) .. when they plop their lil seffs down; go .. "ahhhhh, this is sommmmmme niiiiice!" ..
Also .. remember, that usually when there is plenty of natural flower bloomin' goin' on around and about - the hummers will prefer the au'natur'el over the human-bean-made ...
The general exceptions would be, if they stumble (scuse me: do a 'fly-by') .. and need the xtra lil 'go-juice' to get on along .. to the business of flower browsin' ...
I've not seen any drop here, at all ... But I imagine they'll drop off, practically end - when we leave for a lil trip out west in a few days! But, there again .. I'll not be leaving the hummer or the bird feeders .. up and out, either .. !! Jes hopin' that they'll be a watchin', to see when we return later ...
Maggiemoo .. gonna refer them .. and, send them south (again! hee) for you and Imway to tend to now ... Alrighty!?! (*smilin' some luvin' big'uns here, on this end!*)
Wishin' all of you .. many, many, hummer-blessin's ... and some excellent photo shoots! Rest assured that I'll be checkin' in here - in hopes to see some wonderful updates and even more fantabulous shots posted .. from everyone!!!
* ImWay .. I'm hopin' that you will've pick'd up your diddy-digi .. and have started toyin' around with shutterbuggin' a bit more too !! Jes haint makin' no sense, at all - in you a tryin' to deprive the rest of us of some sharing of your photos: whether they be considered by YOU, to be mediocre, 'so-so', or probably some of the most grand shots, ever!! I, for probably hunnerds more .. want to see YOUR pitters!! You ol scamp you!!
- Magpye
Thanks Magpye, have a safe trip back!
John, what's this I hear about you not wanting to post pics? Git on with it! :-)
Not getting the photo ops actually. :-(
I like to see the little guys up close, so I have one feeder setting on the kitchen window ledge. It makes kitchen chores much more pleasant.
I miss watching them taunt my cats! I know they'll be here later in the season, as will the Monarch's, but I had hoped for some early visitors. My red salvias are starting to bloom so maybe it won't be long now!!
I don't know whats going on! May just be our strange/cool spring, Paige.
hey konkrete~
I've got dozens of eggs and wrigglies -- but there is still only one lonesome GF flitting around. Does this mean she has staked out a new territory?
You're on the wrong thread Brad! lol ...going to find the GF thread...
My husband thinks it's because of how cool it's been this spring.
I saw my first hummer today at one of my three feeders!! What fun to know they are back in town!! Bucki
Report your first male ruby throated at the link above, Bucki, ok?
John
Imway2dumb:
I make my own nectar by this recipe:
1/3 cup sugar to 1 cup water. You can color it, but it is not necessary.
I use 1 part sugar 4 parts water. No color. :-)
John
I'm making my nectar tonight for my new feeder, and it will go out tomorrow am. Hope I'm not too late!
Is there a minimum height it should be hung? The garden hook I have is only about 5' tall.
Not too late. No height requirements, Maggie. :-)
It's out, when will they come? :-)
Very soon!
Are they there yet?
If you build it, they will come.
(sigh) I haven't seen any yet. But then, I've been a little busy- AC repair people through, insurance estimator, then water-remediation people (twice), and finally overnight family so I could drive them to the airport this morning. I steal a look whenever I can, hoping.
What times of the day are they most likely to hit the garden/feeders? (Or does it matter what time of the day it is?)
More AC and water remediation people will will traipsing around tomorrow, I'm going to stay out of their way by sitting in the garden, watching...
After sunrise and prior to sunset. :-)
Last year, I used to see them off and on all day, but I have a very shady yard. This year, I've only caught glimses of them during the morning and evening hours, as John said.
Just wanted to report that we have had hummers here at our house since May 5 or so. I thought I reported it here, but I guess I didn't. We have three feeders out but no red flowers blooming at all (except do azaleas count for hummer attractors?).
We have seen maybe 5 or 6 HBs darting around...
I expect when the red Hollyhocks and Salvia start blooming we will have more.
Also, I am researching with some folks on the hemerocallis forum what are the best daylily hummingbird attractors. I had never thought of dls for that, but one website said that plant is in the top ten attractors...mmm....do any of you have thoughts on which day lilies are the best? Singles? Red, Orange, Coral, Purple, Yellow? Tall, short? Just wondered....if you like you can post it over in 'Daylilies'. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/509690/
Happy Hummingbirding, everybody...t.
Thanks for your thoughts. t.
I saw three of them today. They are checking out the Coral Bells, which are not fully opened yet. When they flower, the bird goes up and down each stem and takes a sip from each bell. They just love them. Must have concentrated nectar.
