Counting the Days

Hello everyone....

I'm a bit new to Dave's Garden Forums... Signed up a week or so ago......This is really a great way to see what everyone else has growing for the little hummers, and to share the pictures we take of them..

Most of what I grow is for the hummers,,,,,,It can feel like Grand Central Station around here at times when the hummers start returning on the first of May.... This time of year I start counting down the days... Two months and 18 day to go!!

Heres a pic of one of my littles guys sitting on a small branch in one of my apple trees in front of the greenhouse by one of the feeders.... This was his second year, so I named this one Jake.... What a show boater this joker is....Hope he makes it back again this year....

I really am enjoying reading all the threads on this forum and hope I can contribute a few of my own in the comming weeks & months....

...Dave

I started keeping a journal last year of the first and last dates I see Hummers in my yard. Without getting up and going to it, I believe my first hummer I saw was April 5th and the last date I saw them in my yard was Oct 7th. I sure miss them. I had to put out several more feeders because two males were feeder hogs. It amazed me that they would come to my sunroom window and just hover and scream at me (that fussing sound they make) as if to say, "Hey, lady, the sweet water's getting low!". I'd fill the feeders up and they wouldn't put on that show again until the feeders got low again. I don't know if that was just a coincidence or not. I like to think that they are that smart.

Welcome to Dave's, Dave!

Deborah♥

Have been here 1 year and no hummers yet but I have planted lots of hummer-loved plants and have a feeder so hopefully one will arrive. Welcome Dave!

Since they can spot anything red from long distances, you should have some visit you this year much earlier than April.

guess it is time for me to put up at least one feeder in case a scout comes through

Welcome Dave, great hummer pic!!!

Dave - You took a great hummer photo! I am so envious! I wish I could say that I get hummers!

it is warm here, probably Spring-like temps. Though there is always the chance that we might get freezing temps! It's been known to happen during many a winter here in the Southern part of central Florida. But it is actually what I consider "perfect" weather! I wish it was like this year round. Low 70's during the day and 50's at night. Very pleasant temps!

Deborah;,,,

I know what you mean about them letting you know when the feeders get low or run out..... If his feeder runs out he lets me know as soon as I walk out the door.....He'll fly up to me making those beeping squeeks and then fly right back over to the feeder and point to it..... I'd better be filling it up.....If not he follows me around the yard raising all kinds of hell untill I do..... I've never seen any thing like it.... The first couple weeks of May when the nights are still a bit on the cool side He'll follow right behind me when I head for the greenhouse.....He's the first one in there as soon as the door opens.... Sometimes I think he's half human....

....Dave

Thanks Karen;,,

One day you'll look out in the yard and have hummers.....Once you get them coming around you'll always have them... I lived over in Lake Panasoffkee for a few years.... I planted Morning Glories in the back yard and they seamed to enjoy them....One even made a nest in the thick vines and raised two little ones...... That was really a special treat....


...Dave

Thanks fly_girl;,,,

I spend way to much time photographing those little boogers, but it sure is fun....


....Dave

Becky;,,,

I wish we had those kind of tempretures up here right now....It's been way to cold here for the past couple of weeks...... Although we've had a fairly mild winter so far, I'm still ready for spring.....

Isn't Sebastian the place where they dig the clams?


...Dave

Those are fantastic shots Dave.....what's your secret? What camera.....give us all the scoop please!

those shots are awesome!!!

Dave, you might think about putting your copyright stamp on them, you go into 'My Info' at the top of this page. You might be able to sell those someday, they really are incredible. I have trouble getting a good pic of a butterfly in flight.

Dave - Love your photos of the hummingbirds! Very sharp, interesting photos with great color contrasts! Wonderful!!!!

Sebastian is known for it's clams, frog legs, and Seafood Festivals as well as the deep sea fishing (charter boats) and lobster diving. It use to be a quiet little fishing town with a sign that said "Three Old Men and a Grouch!" LOL The southern east coast of Florida is also well-known for it's underwater snorkeling and scuba diving. Something I loved to do (before kids). There is definitely a lot of charm here. But unfortunately, progress and development have discovered our little town and it is growing. And not all of the growth has been good. Much of the progress is destroying what was so charming about Sebastian. I do not like concrete and asphalt!! :-( :-( :-(

Also, I would definitely put your copywrite information on all your photos! Good advice fly_girl!

Beautiful photos but that last one is just super.

fly_girl;,,

Glad you enjoy them....

The secret is,, alot of time and practice....... I had to learn to pick my spot, grab a chair, sit still, and wait.... Alot of waiting..... Early morning and evening with good soft sunlight are the best times....

I use to use point & shoot cameras, but found I couldn't get the shots I wanted so I switched to a DSLR where I can change the lenses, depending on the subject and distances....Most of the hummers and butterflies were within ten feet using a 400 mm 5.6 lens.... Just about all were taken here in my backyard..

Camera: Canon 10D

I think butterflies make better pictures when sitting on something.... They just look kind of funny when photographed in flight.... To get a good picture of them in flight isn't easy....99% of the time I end up just deleting them.. If you think butterflies are hard to get a shot of in flight, try dragonflies sometime....That will drive you crazy...haa!!

...Dave

Thanks DonnaB;,,,,

Glad you enjoy them......Hummers can be alot of fun, and are great company when out working in the yard...Each one has it's own personality.....Sometimes it's hard keeping up with them.... I loose track of who's who, I have so many here during the summer......

Last summer I was auctioning some clematis on ebay.....The person that bought them was from Port Clinton, Ohio.... He wanted to know if he could just drive over and pick them up insted of me having to ship them..... I said shure no problem...... He ended up spending a couple hours just watching the hummers......He said he'd never seen anything like it......He asked if he could bring his wife over one day and watch the air shows...... I told him any time..... Real nice folks......Now his wife is planting a hummingbird garden.... He said, see what you started!! ,,, I said don't blame me,, your the one that wanted to bring her over!!! haa! haaa!!
!

Thanks stetchworth;,,,

I feel really blessed to have a place out here in the country with so much wildlife around.....It's just not the hummers......The many different species of birds here is unbelivable.... Some day I hope to purchase another two acres next to me and put in a nice size pond and landscape it for the many different warblers that are here..... I love listening to their songs.... Not only that, I can stock the pond with fish for the bald eagles that come to visit....... They fish in the river behind the house and land in the tall pine trees here in the back yard........Theres also an eagles nest a couple miles down the river to the south...I figured they wouldn't mind another fishing hole to hang out at.....


...Dave

Sounds like heaven Uncle.

Dave, please promise to post lots of wildlife photos this coming spring!

Dave how nice of you. I love to get others hooked on butterfly and hummer gardening

Wonderful pictures, Dave. Welcome and we hope to see lots of your pictures.

My hummer feeder is officially up! Wish me luck!

Good Luck! Maybe I should try putting my feeders up too? Though I have been told they have been here for over a month. And I also heard they like the flowers more than the feeders in my area. :-S

Wow! What wonderful shots! Welcome Dave. Are you taking photos of other birds also? If so, be sure to post some in the Birdwatching forum!

Yes right on, what all my DG friends have already said! Great pics Dave & Welcome!!

I have been putting up the hummie feeder for a little over a month now, just to see what would come...Yep I miss them too you guys! It shouldn't be long now!

This is what I got for the hummie water> I took the plate with the holes in it off so the shorter beaks could drink from it...
Did someone say warbler?

That's a great idea , Deb, for year round feathered friends!

Yes Deborah~ turned out to be a good idea:-),
She has lived around here for a while, and had been eating the insect suet. Then when I put up the hummie water, & I learned how much they like that too. And as far as small birds are concerned, here I was pineing for my hummers to return, and I get this super cute Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Just the cutest!! There are several here.. Yesterday 2 of them were playing tag at the suet and I saw the red flash of his Ruby crown...(didn't have the camera, but those little guys are fast anyway).

Dave~ How do the hummies get along with the Warblers in your yard? This Orange-crowned w. has had the feeder all to herself for a while now. Curious what to expect when the hummers do return..

Deb

Karen;,,
More like a paradise for the birds... They keep me in the poor house with all the seed they eat....At least ten pounds a day....It gets worse in the warmer months when the summer birds start returning.... I thought about setting up a webcam out by the feeders but haven't got around to it yet....


...Dave

Cordeledawg;,,

I think I might have a few here some where on this computer..... I'll see what I can locate....

Glad you enjoy them...


....Dave

what a beautiful collage

I should have set up a webcam yesterday at my feeders. I have a resident furless squirrel, I call Mr. Ropetail, trying his best to balance himself to get to my feeders. Also saw a woodpecker on the feeder for the first time in 27 years. Another first was seeing a male blue bird on the suet feeder too.

This picture is the pits, taken too far away. But you can get an idea of how my feeders are set up. Wish I could take good pictures like Dave. I'll have to work on my zoom feature.

Your collage is one of the best I've ever seen. There's no grid lines. Amazing technique and graphic. I think I spotted my state bird in your picture? Brown Thrasher inbetween the two butterflies at the top, right?

Thanks Doodlebug;,,,,

Nice to be here...... Heres another one I came across in one of my folders.... I liked it just beacuse it had that paintbrush looking effect..... Hope you like it...


....Dave

Love it!!!

Seriously Dave ..... your photos are print quality and should be framed! Just wondering ... are you a professional photographer? If not, you certainly should be!!!!

Loved your collage and the last hummer photo that you posted. Absolutely stunning!!! Thank you for sharing them! I'm certainly enjoying them!!!

I put mine out on the last day of April Karen;,,

Let us know when you start seeing any of those little jokers..... My gang will start rolling in on the first of May....


...Dave

Will do gardenpom;,,


Most of my photos are from here in my yard with the execption of some of the eagles.....I visit different nests during the nesting season which is starting now, just to watch them... I was out yesterday for a couple hours watching the pair down the river.....



....Dave

debnes;,

Now thats a first for me seeing a warbler at a hummingbird feeder.....I might have to give that a try.........I have a good amount of warblers over here....


,,,Dave