This male has been here for a few days. These two shots are the same bird about 30 secs. apart.
New Guy?
I think this guy and one I saw at the same time in a tree are the immature males from this year,maybe Big Red has migrated. These shots are the same guy.
This is another with him in a lemon tree.
This is after flight school
What a beauty. I really like the flight school pic. Can't wait til our rubys return. Becky.
You, sir, are an artist.
Great photos....
Beautiful - sigh... Do you have them year round where you are? We only get the ruby throat during the summer months. I'm finding them VERY hard to photograph.
They leave for a month or so if it's cold-Rich
This morning I saw a female Anna's Hummingbird (I think). I wanted to take a photo but by the time I had my camera out of the case, she had flown away. How do you people who are so gifted with the digital camera catch the beautiful photos that you do? Is there an little known method besides the obvious one to have your camera ready at all times in the garden?
Thanks,
Chuck
Feeder and flowers-Rich
Rich,
I have two different kind of feeders (one still coming) as of last night. I missed up a terrific opportunity. I was sitting in the backyard yesterday and a pair of hummingbirds flew into my yard, just looking around. I had removed my feeder the day before because I couldn't get the dadgum thing to work right. The hummingbirds checked everything out and then flew away. I hope they come back to nest. I am pretty sure it is the same Anna's Hummingbird female that has been coming to my yard for the last two weeks.
I went last night to Wal-Mart and purchased a feeder and then I found an inexpensive feeder on the Internet. Between the two I hope I will attract more hummingbirds.
Thanks for the advice,
Chuck
Chuck the hummingbird will nest, the female. They mate and that is it the males rule the feeder and the female will usually leave to have her nest more hidden away.I end up with from one to 3-4 males buzzing each other and playing Top Gun for the rest of the season. It's a great show good luck.-Rich
Rich, The more I read, the more I know I have to learn. What kind of hummingbirds are the pics on your post? If they are Anna's Hummingbird, then the birds I saw were not. The ones I saw had much more green and I don't remember red on the throat. I have been keeping my camera next to me when I go outside. Maybe I can get a pic of one of them.
Thanks for the info,
Chuck
This is the same bird in different light. Hummers can change color almost at will. They are iridescent.
This is an Anna same as all of them.This is Queenie a female after Big Red showed up I never saw her again.
This is why. Big Red He will run off all the other hummers. Hummers don't make friends...-Rich
Richswanner,
I think I have two or three males fighting over the two feeders. I had to move the feeder I bought at Wal-mart to a inconspicuous place so the bees who have taken over it can have it at will. The feeder I bought on the Internet turned out to be a treasure. I immediately ordered the same one, only larger.
Now I have no problems with ants or bees. The hummingbirds are a different story. I try to spend three or four hours in the backyard so the hummingbirds will get used to my presence. However, they are more interested in protecting the feeders from each other. So far it looks like the little guy is winning, although the others have gotten in their licks too.
Thanks for showing me the photos and explanations...it opened a new world for me.
Thanks again,
Chuck
Great the little guy will start sneaking in ,low usually and the big guy will run him off. They do this all day long. when the season gets going and it gets warm they will hit the feeder about every 6-12 mins yours or one in the neighborhood. The males have the most red on the throat. The females have a little but the males in full sun if they bob their head down can change the whole head to red. You will see it just wait-Rich
Rich,
The little guy is still around (or maybe it is more than one). I still haven't seen any red coloring on the little guy. But I have seen challengers with red on their throats. Watching them protect their feeders is very interesting. I ended up buying another feeder from the same online company and I disposed of the feeder I bought from Wal-Mart. The feeders that I bought from The Bird Shed have guards against ants and bees so the hummingbirds are the only ones feeding on the feeders.
Just looking at the photos that you posted earlier in this post is a remarkable experience. I am going to try to take photos a little later in the season, we have had so much rain (it is raining right now).
Question: If the hummers become used to the feeders, will they ignore all the plants as they bloom that I have planted for them?
Thanks again,
Chuck
The little guys sneak in when the Boss won't let them near the feeder. Hummers love plants, the plants have different tastes and the variety is something they like. The feeder is just easy for them.The plants also bring in all kinds of nice insects like butterflies, dragonfies, bees etc.They add so much to the whole experience that it makes the garden.
This message was edited Mar 19, 2006 4:53 PM
Rich,
So far, I have seen only one male with the red hood. It was a beautiful sight. Is there anything I can do to make this happen more frequently? I am trying to sort out the relationships of the hummers that use my feeders. The dominant hummingbird will attack any hummers that come close to the 8 oz feeder but will share a 16 oz feeder (on the other side of the yard) with another hummer.
Hope all is well with you,
Thanks again,
Chuck
The new Queenie is here
This message was edited Mar 30, 2006 8:07 PM
Hi Atlantans! Has anyone seen our Rubies yet this year? I have heard that a few stay around all year in the Atlanta area, but I have never seen them. We should soon. I usually have 2 pair nest here in my yard. They sure are fun to watch.
~hotlanta